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Argentina federal court dismisses case accusing president of Iran cover up

By JC Finley
Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner de Fernandez in 2010. File Photo by UPI/Stephen Shaver.
Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner de Fernandez in 2010. File Photo by UPI/Stephen Shaver. | License Photo

BUENOS AIRES, March 27 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court in Argentina has dismissed a case accusing President Cristina Kirchner and other officials of conspiring with Iran to cover up the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires.

Judge Jorge Ballestero wrote in his ruling on Thursday there was "a notable disparity between what is claimed and what is proven" and that "it's the presence of evidence that should lead to a criminal investigation and not the other way around."

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Prosecutor Alberto Nisman accused Kirchner, Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman and others of conspiring to impede his investigation into the 1994 bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) Jewish center that killed 85 people.

The administration officials denied wrongdoing and some officials had suggested Nisman's allegations were the work of local and foreign intelligence services.

On Jan. 18, four days after announcing his criminal complaint against the president, Nisman died mysteriously in his apartment, a day before he was to appear before a congressional committee to present his allegations.

Gerardo Pollicita took over for Nisman as prosecutor and appealed a judge's decision in February to dismiss the case.

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The appeals court, which ruled Thursday to dismiss the case, was split in its decision. Judge Eduardo Farah reiterated in his dissenting opinion that an investigation was still necessary. "Without investigating anything we leave room for but one thing, uncertainty. Only by initiating an investigation will we be able to answer all of the questions raised here. Not investigating this is not only incorrect but it is contrary to the law."

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