Argentine President Hosts Campaign Rally

Argentina's President Nestor Kirchner and First Lady Cristina Kirchner, wave to tens of thousands of supporters filling the Buenos Aires Plaza de mayo, Thursday, May 25, 2006, during a rally marking Kirchner's third anniversary in power, a move seen by many as a tune up for a re-election run next year. (AP Photo/Raul Ferrari,Telam) (Raul Ferrari - AP)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- President Nestor Kirchner drew tens of thousands of cheering supporters to a rally Thursday marking his third anniversary in power, a gathering seen as a tune up for a re-election run next year.

The throng jammed Buenos Aires' main square, the broad Plaza de Mayo fronting the Government House, where Kirchner and his wife saluted the crowd amid fluttering balloons, huge banners and banging drums.

Police give no estimate on the size of the crowd and it was unclear if Kirchner got the more than 100,000 he wanted to jam the square. Thousands more, however, spilled out onto side streets.

"Argentina! Argentina!" the crowd chanted amid the crackle of fireworks as a blizzard of confetti floated down on Kirchner and other leaders standing on a stage against the backdrop of the pink Government House.

Kirchner said his 3-year-old government had stabilized an Argentine economy battered by a devastating 2002 financial meltdown. He blamed double-digit inflation and high unemployment on predecessors' missteps and urged the cheering throng to support him as he continues his efforts to right the economy.

"We have come to this plaza to show our strength, to show our resolve in rebuilding Argentina," Kirchner said. "Argentina was close to collapsing but thanks to the strength of honest, decent people who never resigned themselves to allowing this country to fail, we have begun the reconstruction."

He said 2.5 million people had been put back to work in his term and declared his country had won its economic freedom by paying off billions of dollars in debt _ its entire obligation to the International Monetary Fund.

Most analysts expect Kirchner to run for re-election amid a divided opposition still unable to settle on an effective challenger.

"Kirchner Again in 2007," read one banner. "Thank You Kirchner, the people support you" read another.

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Associated Press writer Lauren Smiley contributed to this report in Buenos Aires.