A provincial governor in Argentina, who was one of several former military officers being investigated over secret Swiss bank accounts, has survived an attempt to impeach him.

Antonio Bussi, a retired general, was suspended from office in April, but on Friday a parliamentary commission in Tucuman province failed to obtain a sufficient majority to remove him permanently from his post.

Human rights groups have accused General Bussi and other officers of stealing money from people who disappeared during military rule in Argentina in the late 1970's and early 1980's, and hiding the money abroad.

General Bussi was charged with human rights abuses but was cleared under an amnesty law.