The entire cabinet of interim president Mr Adolfo Rodriguez Saa's week-old government offered its resignation today, after a crisis meeting called amid a new wave of social unrest.
However, the Argentine president received encouragement from US President Mr George W. Bush who urged him to stick with the IMF plan in a telephone call today.
In a statement, Mr Rodriguez Saa said he had not decided whether to accept the cabinet's resignations and deplored the violence that wracked the capital overnight.
"I deeply deplore the incidents of violence overnight Friday to Saturday," he said. "I call on all Argentines to maintain peace."
Mr Rodriguez Saa was named president last Sunday after Mr Fernando de la Rua resigned amid street riots in response to free market economic policies and austerity measures implemented to keep them afloat.
Thousands of Argentines spilled out onto the streets in pot-banging protests before the presidential palace in the early hours of today. They demanded the resignation of certain presidential advisors and access to their partially frozen bank accounts.
The largely peaceful protest turned violent when a group of teenagers tried to storm the palace and clashed with riot police who used tear gas and pressure hoses to disperse the crowd.
Twelve policemen were injured in the clashes with six in serious condition, the federal police said. Thirty-three demonstrators were detained. There were no reports of serious injuries among the protesters.
One of the main targets in last night's protest was top presidential aide Mr Carlos Grosso, who as former mayor of Buenos Aires was accused of embezzlement and influence peddling.
Other controversial politicians include Foreign Minister Mr Jose Maria Vernet and Mr Rodriguez Saa who is said to have run his native San Luis province as a private fiefdom during his 18-year governorship.
AFP