Argentine Foreign Minister Carlos Ruckauf is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington Tuesday for talks on Argentina's economic problems.

Mr. Ruckauf met Monday with other Bush administration officials as Argentina seeks billions of dollars in international financial aid to to rebuild its shattered economy. Last month, the International Monetary Fund withheld more than one-billion-dollars in aid to Argentina after the government failed to keep spending under control.

On Monday senior officials from the IMF, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank met at IMF headquarters in Washington to discuss Argentina. The agencies later issued a statement, saying they are working closely to help the South American country recover from its financial troubles.

Thousands of jobless Argentines rallied again Monday in Buenos Aires to demand work as well as relief from the impact of the country's deepening economic crisis.

The marchers massed near the presidential palace and blocked roads to demand the creation of one million jobs as well as benefits for the poor and unemployed.

President Eduardo Duhalde has appealed for patience amid the daily protests, saying it will take time for Argentina to recover from the crisis that has left 18 percent of the work force unemployed. The bankrupt nation is in default on its $141 billion public debt and the Argentine economy has been in recession nearly four years.

In a related development, the IMF's top Latin America specialist, Claudio Loser, will head to Argentina later this week to establish a framework for talks on new financial aid to the country.

The IMF has been urging Argentina to develop a plan for sustainable economic growth in order to qualify for assistance.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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