Mr. Bresser Pereira, 52 years old, takes over in the midst of an acute economic crisis marked by runaway inflation and a virtual breakdown in Brazil's relations with its commercial creditors.

Aye, There's the Ruble The New York Times and Los Angeles Times lead with Russia's deepening economic crisis, marked yesterday by a nearly ten percent drop in the ruble.

The political crisis was brought to a head by an economic crisis marked by a 9 percent contraction of economic activity and inflation exceeding 1,700 percent last year.

And this crisis, marked by unemployment expected to affect 12 percent of the work force by next year, was the focus of much debate here this week.

Mr. Cavazos said at a news conference in San Antonio on Tuesday that "attitudinal change" was an essential first step to solving an educational crisis marked by a 40 percent dropout rate among Hispanic students.

It was not clear whether the end of the occupation would also stop the street rallies that have jolted this capital for six days in a political crisis marked by some of the worst street violence in years.

At the end of 2001, Argentina was nearing the peak of an economic crisis marked by long-term recession and massive unemployment.

In a crisis marked by huge social inequalities and regional asymmetries, the structural and cohesion policy is a basic factor for effective economic and social cohesion.

Many believe that this is a system in crisis, a crisis marked by sharp contrasts drawn mostly along class lines but permeating every segment of society.

It is facing a financial crisis marked by anemic tax collections and the prolonged sluggishness on Wall Street.