Buenos Aires, Jul 14 (EFE). Former IMF research director Michael Mussa said former Argentine President Carlos Menem triggered the country's "economic collapse" during his presidency (1989-1999). The International Monetary Fund's director of research from 1991 to 2001, blamed the tragedy on the government's "ineptitude" at controlling the fiscal deficit and on its maintenance of a rigid exchange rate.

He also said the Fernando de la Rua administration, which ended abruptly with De la Rua's resignation on Dec. 20, committed the same mistakes.

"The main responsibility for the Argentine economic collapse (lies with) Menem's government," he told the La Nacion daily. weiter>>> hoovnews.hoovers.com