Case against Carlos Menem for 1995 blast dismissed


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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - A federal tribunal in Argentina has ruled prosecutors cannot proceed with a case alleging former President Carlos Menem was involved in an explosion at a military weapons factory that destroyed much of the town of Rio Tercero in 1995.

The blast killed seven people and injured dozens. Prosecutors argued the blast was intended to eliminate evidence of arms trafficking to Ecuador and Croatia by Menem in violation of international embargos.

On Wednesday, Argentina's Judicial Authority said the tribunal found there wasn't sufficient evidence to proceed with the case against the now 83-year-old Menem.

Menem, who governed Argentina from 1989 to 1999, was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison in 2013 for smuggling weapons to Ecuador and Croatia. He remains free because he enjoys immunity as a senator.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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