The new head of Argentina's secret intelligence service, Fernando de Santibanes, has said that about one-third of its staff will be made redundant.

Mr de Santibanes said the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) should rely more on analysis and new technologies than on a large number of employees.

The government of President Fernando de la Rua -- who took office last December - wants the SIDE to investigate money laundering, tax evasion and drug trafficking, rather than monitor dissidents. Correspondents say Mr de la Rua is making big efforts to cut public spending.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service