Eduardo Duhalde, Argentina’s fifth president in two weeks, was greeted by thousands of jeering, pot-banging demonstrators who swarmed the streets of the capital early this morning.

Eduardo Duhalde, an old-style populist from the Peronist party, was sworn in as Argentina’s fifth president in two weeks today - and immediately lashed out at the unbridled free market policies he blames for the country’s economic chaos.

Last-minute political wrangling delayed the Argentine Congress from appointing an interim president last night as legislators argued over how long a caretaker should remain in office and when to call new elections.

Driven from power by a devastating economic crisis and deadly riots, outgoing Argentinian President Fernando De la Rua returned to his offices for a last time today to await the formal hand over to a caretaker government.

Argentina's president Fernando De la Rua has submitted his resignation, following the collapse of his government.