MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

De la Rua to be questioned for “homicide”

An Argentine judge has subpoenaed former President Fernando de la Rua for questioning about his responsibility in the killing of five people during violent protests that produced his resignation late last year.

Experts said it was the first time in Argentine history that a democratically elected former president is ordered to appear to answer questions about his suspected "culpable homicide." A federal court in Buenos Aires ordered Judge Maria Servini de Cubria to subpoena De la Rua to answer questions about his role in the events of Dec. 20 in the capital's Plaza de Mayo, where police brutally repressed scores of protesters.

The court also ordered the release of former Security Secretary Ruben Mathov and former Federal Police chief Ruben Santos, who were placed in preventive detention by order of Judge Servini.

In addition, the court issued an arrest warrant for Omar Bellante, former deputy commissioner of the Federal Police, who stands accused of one of the five killings that took place during the protests.

De la Rua, who stepped down from the presidency on Dec. 20 amid the social upheaval, will be questioned by Judge Servini about his responsibility in the "culpable homicide" of the five protesters.

Servini will also question former Interior Minister Ramon Mestre about his responsibility in the events.

The protests and looting that brought about De la Rua's resignation left 31 dead nationwide and hundreds of others injured.