In pictures: Argentina anger boils over

As Argentina stands on the brink of economic collapse, thousands of Argentines have taken to the streets in some of the worst scenes of civil unrest for a decade.

President Fernando de la Rua left after widespread calls for him to quit

Protesters accused Mr de la Rua of leading the country to economic ruin

Mass protests turned the Argentine capital Buenos Aires into a scene of near-anarchy

Riot police armed with batons tried to break up demonstrations

Demonstrators banged sticks to make sure their protest was heard

Argentines are angry at the government's austerity drive

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds

But even a state of emergency failed to halt the violence

Economy minister Domingo Cavallo was the first political casualty

Hundreds of supermarkets were ransacked as mass protests turned violent