Argentina is rejecting US accusations of a Venezuelan plot to influence its elections. Four people were arrested in Miami this week on charges of trying to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. She was elected in October to succeed her husband Nestor Kirchner. On Thursday, Fernandez dismissed the allegations and accused the US of interference in Argentine affairs.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner: “Argentina never needs someone telling us who our friends are, just as we never tell other countries who their friends should be. We have a strong conviction in the auto-determination of nations. This president may be a woman, but she is not going to let herself be pressured. I will continue firming our relations with all of the friendly nations of Latin America and with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner began her term on Monday. The four Miami suspects have been charged with failing to register as agents of the Venezuelan government.