News In Brief

President of Argentina's Central Bank arrested

The president of Argentina's Central Bank, Julio Gonzalez del Solar, was arrested Monday upon his return from the United States. The arrest was ordered by a judge investigating alleged iregularities in the renegotiation of Argentina's $39 billion external debt, an Economy Ministry spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Argentina has suspended all foreign payments while the government works out the details of new foreign-exchange and import controls announced last Friday. The government had imposed the controls to preserve Argentina's dwindling reserves in view of the crisis in rescheduling the debt. The government was expected to end the freeze on payments as soon as new regulations were issued to specify which payments would be given priority.