Argentina proposes bill to protect tombs

Leaders of Argentina's Jewish community have called for special laws to punish those desecrating Jewish graves following the recent attacks on Jewish cemeteries.

The head of the Jewish community Ruben Beraja said he hoped a bill making the profaning of tombs a specific offense would become law this year.

Mr Beraja was speaking at a ceremony in a cemetery in the capital, Buenos Aires, which was attended by high-ranking government and opposition figures.

The governor of Buenos Aires province Eduardo Duhalde said last week that the attacks were probably the work of former police officers.

He said the vandalism was aimed at undermining attempts to overhaul the police force.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service