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Friday, 7 January, 2005, 08:28 GMT

Anger mounts over Argentine fire

Relatives of those who died in a nightclub fire in Buenos Aires take part in a protest march Thousands have taken to the streets of the Argentine capital calling for the city's mayor to resign after a nightclub blaze that left 188 dead.

Some 5,000 people took part, many of them relatives and friends of the young people who died in the blaze.

As night fell, they gathered outside the Cromagnon nightclub, destroyed when fire engulfed the building a week ago.

The protesters demanded those who they believe are responsible, including the club's owner, be held to account.

"One of the things we're demanding is that there is justice," one demonstrator, Maximiliano, told the BBC.

'Blind eye'

"What's more there are loads of venues where they're breaking the rules and we're certain that nothing's going to be done about it," he added.

Pressure is growing on both the city's mayor, Anibal Ibarra, blamed for turning a blind eye to lax safety standards, and the club's owner, Omar Chaban.

Many of the protesters, who have taken to the streets four times since the fire, carried banners reading "Ibarra, Chaban. You have to pay!"

Mr Chaban has been arrested for alleged negligence and two officials have already stepped down after accepting responsibility for inadequate safety measures.

But the Buenos Aires Mayor, Anibal Ibarra, is refusing to resign.

The fire at the Cromagnon nightclub was one of the worst disasters in Argentine history.

About 700 people were injured when a music fan let off a flare inside the club, setting light to the ceiling.

The disaster was compounded by the conditions inside.

The club was reported to have been filled beyond its capacity and some of its emergency exits were said to have been locked.




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Related to this story:
More die from Argentine club fire (05 Jan 05 |  Americas )
Argentines protest over club fire (04 Jan 05 |  Americas )
Man arrested over Argentine fire (01 Jan 05 |  Americas )
Panic and chaos in club inferno (31 Dec 04 |  Americas )
In pictures: Argentina club fire (31 Dec 04 |  )
Timeline: Argentina (23 Dec 04 |  Country profiles )
Country profile: Argentina (13 Nov 04 |  Country profiles )

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