Argentine military reshaped

President Kirchner spoke about the military in his inaugural speech

The new president of Argentina has forced the head of the army from office in a shake-up of military top brass.

General Ricardo Brinzoni has been replaced by General Roberto Bendini - who comes from President Nestor Kirchner's home province and is a personal friend.

General Brinzoni - who had been in the post for over three years - said his dismissal was "inexplicable" and warned of a return of "political intrigues" not seen since the end of military rule two decades ago.

More than half of the military's top ranks - including heads of the navy, air force and joint chief of staff - are reportedly being purged in the biggest overhaul in 20 years.

In his inaugural address, President Kirchner vowed to take steps to ensure Argentina's military reflected "a commitment to the future and not the past".

The shake-up comes on the eve of army day in Argentina.

General Ricardo Brinzoni said the army would abide by the law.

In his farewell speech, he said: "Political intrigue against the armed forces is as risky as before and seems to turn the clock back 20 years," referring to a shake-up of the army at the start of democracy in 1983.

'Dirty War'

The newly-appointed Defence Minister Jose Pampuro defended the move. "This is neither a purge nor a persecution," he told La Nacion newspaper.

He also said that as many as 27 generals may go.

The shake-up was an attempt by President Kirchner - himself persecuted by a military government - to stamp his authority after winning a weak election mandate, analysts told Reuters news agency.

But media speculation that the move is revenge against officers involved in the 1970s 'Dirty War' - when as many as 30,000 political opponents allegedly disappeared or were killed - was dismissed by one expert.

"I don't believe it is revenge," said Rut Diamint, a military affairs specialist. "Among the generals there are no important cases concerning human rights."