The local press has been covering the political crisis in depth

Both Governor Mercedes "Nina" Aragones and her husband - former governor Carlos Juarez - are accused of corruption, abuse of power and murder.

The call for their arrest came hours after Congress approved direct rule of the province by the federal government.

A poor area, Santiago del Estero has long been dominated by Peronist politicians from the Juarez family.

The order for the arrest of the governor and her husband, who is also the province's finance minister, was issued by federal judge Angel Toledo.

Judicial sources quoted by Argentine media said the arrest warrant cited the disappearance of a number of people during Mr Juarez's governorship in the 1970s.

They said it also accused Ms Aragones of defrauding the state pension system and of organising an attack on the house of a rival politician, Jose Figueroa.

Political crisis

The arrest warrant is the latest development in a political crisis that erupted in January 2003, after the mutilated bodies of two young women were found on the outskirts of the city of Santiago del Estero.

It later emerged that the two women had taken part in an orgy which was also attended by members of the provincial government and other prominent local figures.

The investigation into their murder uncovered evidence of local government links to drug-trafficking and prostitution.

Pressure has been mounting for the federal government in Buenos Aires to take over the administration of the province ever since.

Ms Aragones and her husband have dominated the political life of Santiago del Estero for more than half a century.

The order for their arrest came after Mr Juarez renewed his passport at the local office of the federal police, prompting fears that he would leave the country as soon as direct rule took effect.

However, the couple's lawyer, Jose Antonio Azar, said they had no intention of fleeing and were awaiting developments calmly.