MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

De La Rua's departure - Little reaction in Falklands.

In the Falkland Islands the overnight resignation of President Fernando De La Rua was not unexpected.

One official remarked that, 'He (De La Rua) probably would have fallen sometime ago, but nobody seems to want the Presidency!'

On the streets in Port Stanley, the main talking points were about Christmas, the traditional two days of horse racing (26 & 27 December), and the continuing exceptional dry spell of weather, which has resulted in large areas of farmland being damaged through 'camp' fires, which are out of control. Almost twenty fires are burning, and the cost, through the loss of miles and miles of fences and fire fighting, has run into tens of thousands of pounds already, and is spiralling. There has been no heavy rain since 27 September. One fire is said to be burning in the direction of the British Forces base at Mount Pleasant.

Strong winds on Friday resulted in a further escalation of the fires on both east and West Falklands.

Mild interest was expressed in the severe Argentine crisis, mainly centered around speculation that the Military Forces may use the opportunity to seize power once again, although Falklands politicians have generally discounted this posibility.

Councillor Mike Summers, overwhelmingly re-elected to the Legislature in the November General Election, said 'It is not helpful for us to see the Argentine Government in disarray. We prefer to see our neighbours in a stable situation with a clear future.....instability is of no use to anyone'. Asked about the consequences which the fall of the President and the worsening economic situation may have on other Mercosur countries, Councillor Summers said, 'Their (Argentina) plight is not to anyone's benefit in the region'.

Governor Donald Lamont who yesterday insisted that, 'There was no nervousness at Government House', following news of the two days of rioting, said that he was unable to comment on the resignation of President De La Rua.