ANKARA

Former Argentinian President Fernando de la Rua, 81, whose 1999-2001 tenure fell during the peak of the South American country's economic crisis, died Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

Current President Mauricio Macri expressed his condolences on Twitter, saying that democratic trajectory of de la Rua "deserves the recognition of all Argentines."

According to state-run news agency Telam, de la Rua died of cardiac issues and other complications, a day after he was taken to hospital in "extremely serious" condition.

Fernando de la Rua's presidency came to an end when he escaped by helicopter from the presidential palace, following days of violent protests of his handling of the economic crisis. The protests saw dozens of deaths across Argentina, the world's largest Spanish-speaking country by area.