ARGENTINE SENATOR CANTARERO ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON BRIBERY SCANDAL, 2000-09-01 (photo)

Argentine senator of the opposition Peronist Party, Emilio Cantarero, one of several accused in a bribery scandal, speaks to reporters at his home, denying having received a bribe from government officials to vote for labor law reforms, September 1, 2000. A judge said he now had conclusive evidence that bribes had been paid and he wanted eight senators' immunity from prosecution removed to take testimony from them. In the biggest political crisis since the last army revolt a decade ago, senators of the opposition Peronist Party, which has a majority in Senate, stand accused of taking payoffs to approve key labor market laws. EM