Buenos Aires, Dec 8 (AFP) Argentina's ex-presidentCristina Kirchner lashed out today at a judge's order seekingher arrest as "an excess that violates the rule of law."Kirchner, 64, held a press conference in Buenos Aires tohit back at charges from Judge Claudio Bonadio, who orderedher arrest for treason for allegedly covering up Iran'sinvolvement in a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish center inBuenos Aires.
Bonadio also called on the Senate to begin procedures tostrip her of her parliamentary immunity, which requires atwo-thirds majority.
Kirchner, who has long claimed her legal woes arepolitically motivated, accused center-right President MauricioMacri of "manipulating" the justice system to discredit her.
Kirchner, who stepped down after two terms in 2015, won aSenate seat in elections in October, giving her immunity in aslew of corruption cases stemming from the 12 years shedominated Argentina's politics with her late husband Nestor.
The former president is accused of a cover-up by signinga 2012 deal with Tehran to allow Iranian officials suspectedof ordering the attack on the Jewish center -- which killed 85people and wounded 300 -- to be investigated in their owncountry, rather than in Argentina.
Bonadio asserts that this was part of "an orchestratedcriminal plan" to cover up the alleged involvement of Iranianofficials in return for lucrative trade deals with the IslamicRepublic. (AFP)AQS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.