MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner ponders shake-up of Argentine top brass

President-elect Nestor Kirchner is considering changes to the leadership of the country's armed forces, the man who will be his Cabinet chief said Saturday.

"President Kirchner is studying the situation, but we must not dramatize this. It is within the president's faculties to choose the commanders of the armed forces who will accompany his government," Alberto Fernandez told Buenos Aires' Radio Mitre.

The Argentine people, he said, "have demanded a change in leadership," and any decisions to make personnel changes should be seen in this light. "This is in no way an ideological question. No one should be upset," Fernandez said. His statements marked an apparent attempt to dampen rumors after media reports that Kirchner, who will be inaugurated Sunday, was planning to retire 27 generals, 13 admirals and 12 brigadiers.

If those accounts are borne out, it would be the most drastic purge in the Argentine armed forces since the restoration of democracy in 1983.

Not even the military uprisings that marred the 1983-89 government of Raul Alfonsin and the 1989-1999 tenure of Carlos Menem prompted housecleanings on the scale said to be contemplated by Kirchner.

Along similar lines, Justice Minister-designate Gustavo Beliz said there would be changes in the command ranks of the Federal Police, an institution facing accusations of incompetence, corruption and collusion with organized crime.

"The magnitude and scope of these changes will be announced later," Beliz told local radio, adding that only honest and effective men would be appointed.

"One cannot combat crime without these two great qualities," Beliz said.