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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Argentina investigates ex-leader | Argentina investigates ex-leader |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner is to be investigated by a court over corruption allegations. | Former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner is to be investigated by a court over corruption allegations. |
| A senior judge said the probe would also look at certain aspects of Mr Kirchner's links with the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez. | A senior judge said the probe would also look at certain aspects of Mr Kirchner's links with the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez. |
| Mr Kirchner, who has made no comment, is married to current President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. | Mr Kirchner, who has made no comment, is married to current President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. |
| The investigation was launched at the request of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Elisa Carrio. | The investigation was launched at the request of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Elisa Carrio. |
| Prosecutors said the evidence submitted by her was sufficient to warrant a judicial inquiry. | Prosecutors said the evidence submitted by her was sufficient to warrant a judicial inquiry. |
| Venezuela contract | Venezuela contract |
| The allegations against Mr Kirchner and two former government ministers centre on 30 alleged cases of corruption dating back to his presidency, which ended last year. | The allegations against Mr Kirchner and two former government ministers centre on 30 alleged cases of corruption dating back to his presidency, which ended last year. |
| Ms Carrio alleges the former president and several top government officials distributed big construction contracts and government-owned licenses to drill for oil in return for financial rewards. | Ms Carrio alleges the former president and several top government officials distributed big construction contracts and government-owned licenses to drill for oil in return for financial rewards. |
| The investigation will also examine a contract signed in 2004 by Mr Kirchner and his Venezuelan counterpart. | The investigation will also examine a contract signed in 2004 by Mr Kirchner and his Venezuelan counterpart. |
| Elisa Carrio stood against President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner | Elisa Carrio stood against President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner |
| Under the terms of the agreement, Argentina was to buy Venezuelan fuel and in return Venezuela would purchase Argentine manufactured goods. | Under the terms of the agreement, Argentina was to buy Venezuelan fuel and in return Venezuela would purchase Argentine manufactured goods. |
| It is alleged that $90m (£61m) in Argentine government funds used to complete to deal have disappeared without a trace. | It is alleged that $90m (£61m) in Argentine government funds used to complete to deal have disappeared without a trace. |
| The BBC's Greg Morsbach says this is not the first time Argentina's relationship with Venezuela has come under close scrutiny. | |
| A court in the US recently jailed two Venezuelan businessmen for illegally acting as agents of the Venezuelan government on US soil in an effort to silence a man who smuggled a suitcase filled with $800,000 in cash into Argentina. | A court in the US recently jailed two Venezuelan businessmen for illegally acting as agents of the Venezuelan government on US soil in an effort to silence a man who smuggled a suitcase filled with $800,000 in cash into Argentina. |
| US prosecutors say the cash was sent by Caracas to fund the presidential election campaign of Mrs Fernandez de Kirchner. | US prosecutors say the cash was sent by Caracas to fund the presidential election campaign of Mrs Fernandez de Kirchner. |
| The Venezuelan and Argentine governments have rejected the allegations, saying the trial was politically motivated. | The Venezuelan and Argentine governments have rejected the allegations, saying the trial was politically motivated. |
| A Uruguayan has also been jailed for his involvement in the case. | A Uruguayan has also been jailed for his involvement in the case. |