Argentine president la Rua faced the most powerful general strike against his center-left administration. Argentina's embattled President Fernando de la Rua resigned following street protests. The main reason behind De la Rua resignation is the failure to bring stability, reducing unemployment, curbing down the unequal distribution of wealth, and failure to reduce corruption. It was these measures that set off the rioting that led to De la Rua's resignation. Protesters rallied outside De la Rua's presidential palace where riot police on horseback repeatedly pushed them back with batons, water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets. Hundreds were taken into custody. Reports of the number of dead range anywhere from six to thirty people killed since the riots began.