Argentine president threatened during copter trip

AP

Posted: 2009-12-14 11:49:49

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has received death threats over a radio frequency while commuting to work by helicopter and her Cabinet chief said Monday officials take the threats seriously.

Radio communication between her pilot and a control tower was interrupted Friday by someone saying, "Kill her" and, "Kill the mare," as well as more obscene phrases, according to a recording broadcast Monday by C5N television. For several seconds, a military march is heard.

Cabinet Chief Anibal Fernandez told the Radio 10 station that the threats were "very serious" and are being investigated.

He said they were aimed at creating fear, "but they are not going to achieve that."

The government suspects supporters of Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship could be behind the threats. They came on the first day of a historic trial of 19 dictatorship-era officials accused of torturing thousands of political prisoners inside the Navy Mechanics School.

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