Leadership crisis adds to misery in Argentina.(Chicago Tribune)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina _ The economic and political turmoil that pushed Argentina to the brink of chaos a year ago has been replaced by a simmering mood of disappointment, rage and fear.

Most unsettling for many Argentines is that the country is not only facing its worst economic crisis ever, but its political leadership, too, is just as confused and unstable as it was when a violent backlash collapsed the elected government last December.

The Peronists, the country's most powerful political party, are so splintered among heavyweights battling for control that just deciding on a date for the party's presidential primaries has become an intense struggle.

Argentina's Peronist president, Eduardo Duhalde, earlier called party primaries for December.

Now Duhalde _ appointed by Congress in January after riots that killed about 30 people overthrew his elected predecessor _ has vowed not to run for re-election. But he plans to delay both the Peronist primary and next year's presidential election to find an appropriate challenger

for his archrival and enemy, former Argentine President Carlos Menem.

Menem, a fellow Peronist who ranks second in national polls of voter intentions, has been highly critical of Duhalde's stalling tactics.