The army was drastically reordered last week

But the police chief, Roberto Giacomino, will keep his job - unlike the head of the army, General Ricardo Brinzoni, who last week was purged in a sweeping shake-up of the military.

Justice Minister Gustavo Beliz has said "profound changes" are needed to fight crime, which has soared, particularly in a belt around the capital.

The country's painful economic crisis has pushed unemployment levels up to 18% - meaning over half the Argentine population now live in poverty.

Dramatic step

The overhaul of the federal police is another dramatic step in the presidency of Nestor Kirchner, who was sworn in only at the beginning of last week.

He said he had told his ministers to "speak a little, do a lot".

Speak a little and do a lot, the president told ministers

The shake-up of the 32,000-member federal police will see up to 80% of top posts replaced.

The sackings will begin with a dozen top federal officers just under Mr Giacomino.

The files of 53 chief police commissioners are being looked at, one by one, although many will not be replaced immediately.

Almost daily reports of kidnappings, soaring robbery and complaints of corruption and inefficiency within the force have prompted calls for reform and tougher policing.

New counsel

The new scheme will include the creation of a police counsel, formed of retired chiefs, who would make monthly appraisals of the police, Mr Beliz was quoted as saying in La Nacion newspaper.

He said the police chief, Mr Giacomino, had done a good job and would be staying on.

The government has also promised to put more police on the streets, trains and in dangerous areas.