Argentine president seeks overhaul of intelligence services

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — President Cristina Fernandez called on Congress to dissolve Argentina's intelligence services in the wake of the mysterious death of a prosecutor, strongly denying his accusation that she had sought to shield former Iranian officials suspected in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center.

She did not say who might have killed Alberto Nisman, but in recent letters posted on social media she suggested that rogue intelligence agents may have orchestrated the death in a plot against her government.

Her nationally televised address late Monday was the first since Nisman was found dead hours before he was to give potentially explosive testimony on the purported cover-up.

She provided no new details of the alleged plot within the intelligence agencies she oversees, and the speech was immediately criticized by opposition parties and Jewish community leaders.

"The Intelligence Department is not going to change with a modification of its name," said Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, a leading possible presidential contender for October elections. He said Fernandez's speech did nothing to clear up what happened to Nisman.

Fernandez said she would give lawmakers her proposal for a new spy agency by the end of the week.

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