Argentine President defends economic policies

The Argentine president, Fernando de la Rua, on his first official visit to the United States, has been defending his government's economic policies.

Speaking to business leaders in New York, Mr de la Rua stressed that the cornerstone of Argentina's economy in recent years, the parity of the Argentine peso to the US dollar, would remain.

There have been widespread protests in Argentina over the government's recently announced austerity measures.

But Mr de la Rua insisted his aim was to tackle the huge fiscal deficit and reduce unemployment.

On Tuesday, the Argentine leader is due to meet President Clinton.

He will also visit the US Holocaust Memorial, where a ceremony is planned. Many former prominent Nazis found refuge in Argentina -- among them Adolf Eichmann, considered the chief architect of the Holocaust.

He was abducted by Israeli agents from his hideout in Buenos Aires in 1960.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service