Menem ahead

The Argentine President, Carlos Menem, said his Peronist party had trounced its rivals in a key congressional election, gaining nine seats and adding momentum to his drive for a second term in office, Reuter reports from Buenos Aires.

'The nationwide projection shows a lead of more than 13 per cent over our main opposition,' Mr Menem said. 'A constitutional reform is now a must.' Mr Menem, who wants a constitutional amendment so he can stand for re-election in 1995, said his party had won even in the city of Buenos Aires - traditionally a stronghold of the opposition Radical Party.