| The ruling coalition of Argentine President Cristina Kirchner was dealt a blow in mid-term elections, losing control of the country's Congress and suffering defeat in five key provinces. Even the president's husband Nestor Kirchner, himself a former head of state, lost his race in Buenos Aires province, where he was seeking a seat in the Chamber of Deputies. "Argentine society has sent the government a message," commented political analyst Rosendo Fraga after the release of official results from Sunday's balloting. "It has to change course." With 75% to 95% of the ballots counted, a coalition supported by the president and her husband lost four seats in the Senate and with them control of the 72-member upper house of Parliament. With the 36 Senate seats still under their control, the pro-government Front for Victory is one short of a controlling majority. "We have now become the main opposition force," boasted opposition leader Ricardo Alfoncin, who won a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, which also went to the opposition. |

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