Argentina's Congress impeached a Supreme Court judge on Thursday, the fourth justice to be targeted in President Nestor Kirchner's anti-corruption purge. Judge Adolfo Vazquez was suspended from his job and will face an impeachment hearing in the Senate for "poor performance." He was one of four judges appointed by former President Carlos Menem -- out of nine on the Supreme Court -- that Kirchner's government accused of making politically motivated rulings and being loyal to Menem, a foe of Kirchner. The removal of the judges is widely popular in Argentina. The government, which dominates Congress, says purging the court and installing new justices will end the political bias that could block key economic and human rights policies. The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the constitutionality of laws protecting from prosecution hundreds of officers involved in a bloody crackdown of government opponents during the 1976-1983 military rule. Kirchner wants an end to the laws. --MORE 2231 Local Time 1931 GMT
