Buenos Aires  - The order to release of 12 torture suspects from Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship unleashed a storm of condemnation from President Cristina Kirchner as well as human rights organizations in Argentina Thursday.

Justice officials said that 12 of the charged former military figures must be released from investigatory detention because a deadline had expired beyond which suspects could not be held without a legal judgement.

The Attorney General said it would appeal the decision.

Buenos Aires  - Argentina's Senate Wednesday voted 42 to 21 to approve the nationalization of the financially troubled airline Aerolineas Argentinas and its regional subsidiary Austral, taking another step in a project that has been under discussion for months.

The vote follows similar approval by the lower Chamber of Deputies on December 3.

Both airlines are owned by the Spanish travel conglomerate Grupo Marsans, which has already signalled its intention to fight the takeover in court.

At issue was not the return of the airlines to national ownership, which was basically approved in September, but rather the price to be paid.

Buenos Aires - Argentine officials sprang a Davis Cup surprise with their selection on Wednesday of unknown Modesto Vazquez as new captain for the 2008 finalists.

The 59-year-old replaces Alberto Mancini, who stepped down after his side lost to Spain in the final only weeks ago.

"We have chosen two professionals with a lot of experience and long careers in tennis," said Enrique Morea, president of the Argentine federation.

Vazquez is working as federation development director, but played ties for his South American nation in 1968 and 1970.

Buenos Aires  - A Chilean Navy ship Friday rescued 89 passengers from a ship that ran aground in icy Antarctic waters, took on water through the damage and suffered a fuel leak.

The tourists boarded the rescue ship Aquiles early Friday some 1,300 kilometres south of the Argentine port of Ushuaia, a day after their boat called for help after becoming stuck, Claudia Albornoz, a spokeswoman for the operator Antarpply Expeditions in Ushuaia, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The passengers were to be taken to the Chilean Antarctic station Frei, where they were expected to arrive late Friday. On Saturday, they were set to fly on to Ushuaia.

Buenos Aires  - The Argentine cruise ship Ciudad de Ushuaia, with 122 people on board, called for help Thursday after getting stuck in the ice, suffering a fuel leak and letting in a "minimal" amount of water, the Argentine Navy said in Buenos Aires.

The ship's 89 passengers and a crew of 33 were "in perfect health," Admiral Daniel Alberto Martin told the news television channel C5N.

The problem happened some 300 kilometres south-west of Argentina's Antarctic base, Comodoro Marambio.

The Argentine Navy had sent a ship and an airplane to assist the troubled boat, while a cruise ship that was nearby was approaching it with a view to rescuing passengers.

Buenos Aires, Nov 6 : The Argentinean Football Association (AFA) last evening officially appointed veteran football great Diego Maradona as the next coach of the national side.

AFA president Julio Grondona formally announced Maradona’s name for the post, saying he was “extra special”.