Argentina seeks to end default through bond change

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's government plans to change the way it pays holders of the country's debt as a way to end the default triggered by a legal battle with U.S. investors.

President Cristina Fernandez says she will send a bill to Congress that would set up a system to pay bondholders in Argentina instead of channeling them through the Bank of New York.

The change is intended as a way around a U.S. court order that blocked Argentina from making $539 million in interest payments on July 30, triggering the country's second default in 13 years. It would affect creditors who accepted lower-value bonds following the country's 2001 default and could further complicate the battle with holdout creditors.

Fernandez proposed the change late Tuesday and it's expected to pass in Congress.