Prosecutor to Renew Cover Up Investigation of Argentine President
An Argentine prosecutor has said that he will continue the investigation of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that was begun by Alberto Nisman, who was found dead of a single gunshot wound just hours before he was to testify to the Argentine Congress about his investigation.
The New York Times reports that Prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita announced he would bring charges against Kirchner for her effort to cover up the role of Iranians in a 1994 terror attack. The purpose of the cover up was to convince Iran to trade oil to Argentina in exchange for food commodities.
Although Iran is under international economic sanctions because of its nuclear program, limited trade, for essential goods such as food, is still allowed. It is widely believed that the 1994 attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires was carried out by Iranians affiliated with Hezbollah. That attack claimed 85 lives.
The Times reports that Pollicita's actions will allow a judge to begin the process of collecting evidence to determine if the case should proceed to trial.
A major issue that could prevent the case from coming to trial is the fact that Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman did not attempt to have Interpol lift the arrest warrant for the Iranians who are thought to be responsible for the attack. This would have been the most effecitve way to cover up Iran's role in the bombing.
The decision to continue with charges against Kirchner comes just days before a number of Argentine prosecutors are set to descend on the capital of Buenos Aires for a march in Nisman's name.
Reuters notes that in addition to relying on the fact Timerman did not contact interpol to clear Kirchner's name, the government has said that Nisman was killed by members of Argentina's intelligence apparatus who had gone rogue.
