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Argentine President Now Says Prosecutor’s Death Was Not a Suicide Argentine President Now Says Prosecutor’s Death Was Not a Suicide
(about 2 hours later)
BUENOS AIRES — Confronted with a deepening scandal, the president of Argentina abruptly reversed herself on Thursday, saying that the death of a prosecutor investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center was not a suicide as she and other government officials had asserted. BUENOS AIRES — Confronted with a deepening scandal, the president of Argentina abruptly reversed herself on Thursday, saying that the death of a prosecutor investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center was not a suicide as she and other government officials had suggested.
The change of position by the president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, added a major new twist into the death of the prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, who was found dead in his luxury apartment in Buenos Aires late Sunday of a gunshot wound to the head. The change of position by the president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, added a major new twist into the death of the prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, whose body was found in his luxury apartment in Buenos Aires late Sunday with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Mr. Nisman has long accused Iran of planning and financing the attack, which left 85 people dead. But this month he intensified his claims, accusing Mrs. Kirchner and top aides of trying to subvert his 10-year investigation into the bombing — allegations that the government has flatly rejected. Mr. Nisman had long accused Iran of planning and financing the attack, which left 85 people dead. But this month he intensified his claims, accusing Mrs. Kirchner and top aides of trying to subvert his 10-year investigation into the bombing — allegations that the government has flatly rejected.
Using intercepted phone transcripts, Mr. Nisman asserted that the government had pursued a secret deal with Iran to exchange Iranian oil for Argentine grains — and to shield Iranian officials from charges that they had orchestrated the bombing. Using transcripts of intercepted phone calls, Mr. Nisman asserted that the government had pursued a secret deal with Iran to exchange Iranian oil for Argentine grains — and to shield Iranian officials from charges that they had orchestrated the bombing.
Mr. Nisman He had been scheduled to testify to lawmakers about his accusations on Monday. News of his death, just hours before that widely anticipated testimony, stunned Argentina and immediately raised suspicions of a political cover-up to protect the president. Mr. Nisman had been scheduled to testify to lawmakers about his accusations on Monday. News of his death, just hours before that widely anticipated testimony, stunned Argentina and immediately raised suspicions of a political cover-up to protect the president.
Thousands of angry Argentines took to the streets after Mr. Nisman’s death was announced, not only to show their anger at the unsolved bombing, which is widely considered a national disgrace, but to demand a full investigation into Mr. Nisman’s death. Thousands of angry Argentines took to the streets after Mr. Nisman’s death was announced, not only to show their anger at the unsolved bombing, which is widely considered a national disgrace, but to demand a full and transparent investigation into Mr. Nisman’s death.
After having asserted that his death appeared to be a suicide, Mrs. Kirchner offered a new explanation on Thursday in a post on her website, saying Mr. Nisman had been manipulated by others to smear her. After having suggested that his death appeared to be a suicide, Mrs. Kirchner offered a new explanation on Thursday in a post on her website, saying Mr. Nisman had been manipulated by others to smear her.
“They used him while he was alive and then they needed him dead,” Mrs. Kirchner wrote. “They used him while he was alive and then they needed him dead,” Mrs. Kirchner wrote in the letter, which she subtitled, in part: “The suicide (that I am convinced) was not suicide.”
She was now convinced, she wrote, that Mr. Nisman’s death “was not a suicide.” The president offered no clear explanation or evidence as to who might have been responsible.
The president offered no further explanation as to who might have been responsible. Investigators looking into Mr. Nisman’s death have not ruled out any possibility and there have been no arrests.
Officials in Mrs. Kirchner’s government have dismissed Mr. Nisman’s assertions about a secret deal with Iran, saying that he had been manipulated by Antonio Stiusso, a former senior intelligence official ousted by the president in December.Officials in Mrs. Kirchner’s government have dismissed Mr. Nisman’s assertions about a secret deal with Iran, saying that he had been manipulated by Antonio Stiusso, a former senior intelligence official ousted by the president in December.
Héctor Timerman, Argentina’s foreign minister, said that contrary to Mr. Nisman’s claims, the government had never tried to get Interpol to lift the arrest warrants against Iranian officials wanted in connection with the attack.Héctor Timerman, Argentina’s foreign minister, said that contrary to Mr. Nisman’s claims, the government had never tried to get Interpol to lift the arrest warrants against Iranian officials wanted in connection with the attack.
Mr. Timerman noted that he had released an email from Ronald Noble, the secretary general of Interpol from 2000 through 2014, agreeing that Mr. Timerman and the Argentine government had been “consistent and unwavering” in arguing that the arrest warrants should remain in place.Mr. Timerman noted that he had released an email from Ronald Noble, the secretary general of Interpol from 2000 through 2014, agreeing that Mr. Timerman and the Argentine government had been “consistent and unwavering” in arguing that the arrest warrants should remain in place.
“It was not only me, but the head of Interpol that denied the charge,” Mr. Timerman said, referring to Mr. Nisman’s claim that the deal with Iran fell apart because Argentina failed to persuade Interpol to lift the warrants.“It was not only me, but the head of Interpol that denied the charge,” Mr. Timerman said, referring to Mr. Nisman’s claim that the deal with Iran fell apart because Argentina failed to persuade Interpol to lift the warrants.
There have been no arrests in the case.