Ousted Buenos Aires city mayor Anibal Ibarra is surrounded by reporters as he leaves his home in Buenos Aires March 7, 2006. Buenos Aires lawmakers ousted Ibarra on Tuesday, ruling he failed to enforce safety codes that might have prevented a 2004 nightclub fire that killed 194 people. (Xinhua/Reuters)

Relatives and friends of victims of a nightclub fire react after learning the results of an impeachment hearing in Buenos Aires, March 7, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    BUENOS AIRES, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Buenos Aires lawmakers oustedthe mayor on Tuesday, citing his failure to enforce safety codes that might have prevented a nightclub fire that killed 194 people in 2004.

    A committee of Buenos Aires city deputies voted to sack Mayor Anibal Ibarra on charges of negligence and corruption for Argentina's worst tragedy in decades.

    Ibarra, who has governed the city for six years, was suspended from office in November pending an investigation into the accusations along with charges of irregularities in the city's licensing and fire inspections of the club.

    The fire at the Republica Cromagnon club started when concert-goers shot a flare into the ceiling, igniting flammable soundproofing material.

    Ibarra, whose term was to expire in 2007, will be replaced by Deputy Mayor Jorge Telerman. Enditem