BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Argentina's Fernando de la Rua, undone by a popular revolt against his economic austerity measures, stepped down as president and fled his pink palace in a helicopter on Thursday, after days of unrest that has left at least 24 dead.
De la Rua submitted a brief letter of resignation to Congress before abruptly leaving in a helicopter which whisked him to the presidential residence on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
``I trust my decision will contribute to pacifying the country and maintaining the institutional continuity of the republic,'' he wrote, his last-ditch offer of a unity government with the opposition Peronists in ruins.
Senate chief Ramon Puerta, of the opposition Peronists who rebuffed De la Rua's coalition offer, is now in charge under the constitution. But he said on Thursday he would only remain in the job for 48 hours.
Congress meets at 11 a.m. (9 a.m. EST) on Friday to study who will assume the presidency.
De la Rua departs half way into his four-year term as one of the most unpopular elected leaders in the country's history. His palace was threatened by thousands of protesters angry at relentless belt-tightening drives that have impoverished many in Latin America's No. 3 economy.