The Argentine president, Carlos Menem, has ordered the investigation of a public prosecutor who has been looking into illegal arms sales by the government to Croatia and Ecuador.

Mr Menem wants the Attorney-General to examine the practices of the investigator, Carlos Stornelli.

The president accused him of trying to damage the government by leaking information to the media.

Mr Stornelli -- backed by opposition leaders who accuse Mr Menem of trying to interfere with the course of justice -- denies any unethical conduct.

The BBC South America correspondent says the three-year investigation has been getting ever closer to the Argentine president, who himself denies any wrongdoing.