BUENOS AIRES, Dec 21: Argentine President Fernando de la Rua resigned on Thursday as opposition Peronist leaders rejected his call for a national unity government amid growing unrest over economic austerity policies aimed at staving off financial collapse.

The resignation came a day after he declared a state of emergency in the wake of a crisis prompted by four years of recession and an impending default on a $132 billion public debt.

Peronist Senator Ramon Puerta — the Senate president — is first in line to succeed de la Rua, since Vice President Carlos Alvarez resigned in October 2000. Under the law, he would serve as interim president until Congress meets to select a chief executive.—AFP