Argentina OKs revamp of spy service after Alberto Nisman's death

Argentina lawmakers passed a bill Thursday to revamp the country's intelligence service, parts of which President Cristina Fernandez has portrayed as sinister, accountable to no one and possibly responsible for the death of a star prosecutor.

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Fernandez's leftist government submitted the bill after state investigator Alberto Nisman was found dead on Jan. 18, a few days after he accused Fernandez of trying to cover up Iran's alleged role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center. She rejected the accusation as "absurd."

Fernandez says the new state security body established under the legislation will be more accountable. But government opponents say the legislation does little more than change the name of the spy agency and had been rushed through Congress. The opposition boycotted some of the debate.

It is still not known if Nisman shot himself in the head or was murdered. Fernandez's government has said rogue agents tricked Nisman into making false accusations against her as part of a wider plot to unseat the president. Iran has consistently denied any involvement in the 1994 AMIA center truck bombing.

The lower chamber of lawmakers approved the bill by a majority of 131 votes to 71 after an overnight debate, a statement by the governing Front for Victory coalition said.

Fernandez now has to sign the bill, which she is expected to do in the coming days.

Argentina has been shaken by Nisman's death. He had alleged that Fernandez and her allies shielded Iranian officials accused of masterminding the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires.

She denies that, but polls say many Argentines suspect officials had some hand in the death. Her aides suggest he was killed in a plot to destabilize the government.