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| Argentina prosecutors seek jail for de la Rua | Argentina prosecutors seek jail for de la Rua |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Prosecutors in Argentina have asked for a six-year prison term for former president Fernando de la Rua. | Prosecutors in Argentina have asked for a six-year prison term for former president Fernando de la Rua. |
| He has been accused of paying some $5m (£3m) to a group of senators for them to vote in favour of a controversial labour reform bill in 2000. | He has been accused of paying some $5m (£3m) to a group of senators for them to vote in favour of a controversial labour reform bill in 2000. |
| Five former opposition senators are also facing six-year prison sentences over the scandal. | Five former opposition senators are also facing six-year prison sentences over the scandal. |
| Mr de la Rua, 76, denies all the charges and says the accusations against him are politically motivated. | Mr de la Rua, 76, denies all the charges and says the accusations against him are politically motivated. |
| The trial began in August and a verdict is not expected until next year. | The trial began in August and a verdict is not expected until next year. |
| More than 300 witnesses are expected to testify, including President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who voted against the bill and is not accused of taking a bribe. | More than 300 witnesses are expected to testify, including President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who voted against the bill and is not accused of taking a bribe. |
| Helicopter escape | Helicopter escape |
| A key witness is Mr de la Rua's former parliamentary secretary, Mario Pontaquarto, who pleaded guilty and agreed to collaborate with prosecutors. | A key witness is Mr de la Rua's former parliamentary secretary, Mario Pontaquarto, who pleaded guilty and agreed to collaborate with prosecutors. |
| Prosecutors have asked for an 18-month suspended jail term for him. | Prosecutors have asked for an 18-month suspended jail term for him. |
| Mr Pontaquarto accused the president of giving him orders to offer the bribes to a group of senators to make sure the measure was approved. | Mr Pontaquarto accused the president of giving him orders to offer the bribes to a group of senators to make sure the measure was approved. |
| The legislation was controversial as it scrapped many rights of Argentine workers. | The legislation was controversial as it scrapped many rights of Argentine workers. |
| It was eventually approved, but revoked two years later. | It was eventually approved, but revoked two years later. |
| The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was at the time demanding public sector cuts from the government as a pre-condition to approve new loans. | The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was at the time demanding public sector cuts from the government as a pre-condition to approve new loans. |
| The crisis got worse as the end of 2001 approached. Angry protests took place on the streets after the banks refused to let customers withdraw their deposits. | |
| Mr de la Rua ended up encircled by angry protests at the presidential palace, the Casa Rosada. | Mr de la Rua ended up encircled by angry protests at the presidential palace, the Casa Rosada. |
| He resigned on 20 December 2001 and left the presidential palace in a helicopter. | He resigned on 20 December 2001 and left the presidential palace in a helicopter. |
| Last year, a high court in Argentina dismissed homicide charges against Mr de la Rua over the riots, in which more than 20 people were killed. | Last year, a high court in Argentina dismissed homicide charges against Mr de la Rua over the riots, in which more than 20 people were killed. |
| The court ruled as legitimate his decision to declare a state of siege to deal with the protests. | The court ruled as legitimate his decision to declare a state of siege to deal with the protests. |