Investigation calls for Argentine bribery scandal

The Argentine Vice President, Carlos Alvarez, has called for an official investigation into allegations of bribery in the country's senate.

Mr Alvarez, who said he was acting at the request of the President, Fernando de la Rua, said the matter had to be cleared up.

Mr Alvarez, who heads the Senate, has been the administration's strongest proponent of clearner politics.

The so far unsubstantiated bribery accusations, which surfaced in a newspaper last week, allege that opposition Peronist senators were paid by the government to vote in favour of a controversial labour reform bill.

Correspondents describe the charges as a major blow to President de la Rua, who came to power last December pledging to stamp out corruption.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service