Kolkata, Dec. 6 : Argentine football star Diego Maradona was an hour late, but thousands waited patiently, cheering, dancing and singing to catch a glimpse of this football hero when he arrived to lay the foundation stone of the football academy at the upcoming gated community complex Eden City at Mahestala in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal.

Maradona flew by helicopter from his hotel in Kolkata to the site. On his arrival he waved to the crowds and offered air kisses. He also made the typical fighters gestures the Argentinean footballers are known to make on-field.

Buenos Aires  - A Chilean Navy ship Friday rescued 89 passengers from a ship that ran aground in icy Antarctic waters, took on water through the damage and suffered a fuel leak.

The tourists boarded the rescue ship Aquiles early Friday some 1,300 kilometres south of the Argentine port of Ushuaia, a day after their boat called for help after becoming stuck, Claudia Albornoz, a spokeswoman for the operator Antarpply Expeditions in Ushuaia, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The passengers were to be taken to the Chilean Antarctic station Frei, where they were expected to arrive late Friday. On Saturday, they were set to fly on to Ushuaia.

Buenos Aires  - The Argentine cruise ship Ciudad de Ushuaia, with 122 people on board, called for help Thursday after getting stuck in the ice, suffering a fuel leak and letting in a "minimal" amount of water, the Argentine Navy said in Buenos Aires.

The ship's 89 passengers and a crew of 33 were "in perfect health," Admiral Daniel Alberto Martin told the news television channel C5N.

The problem happened some 300 kilometres south-west of Argentina's Antarctic base, Comodoro Marambio.

The Argentine Navy had sent a ship and an airplane to assist the troubled boat, while a cruise ship that was nearby was approaching it with a view to rescuing passengers.

Buenos Aires  - In a move to confront the growing threat of recession, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Tuesday announced a 21.5-billion-dollar (71-billion-peso) programme to create jobs in the construction industry.

The aim is to expand the number of jobs in the sector from 362,000 to 770,000, Kirchner said at the annual meeting of the building industry in Buenos Aires.

Details of the programme are to be unveiled on December 15.

Mar del Plata, Argentina  - Fighting Feliciano Lopez kept Spain in the chase for the Davis Cup title, overwhelming fatigued Argentine Juan Del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6
(7-4), 6-3 on Friday to pull the visitors to 1-1 in the final.

Lopez, substituted into singles by captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario, proved his worth as he stunned Del Potro, who has been feeling the effects of a long season where he won four titles back to back over the summer.

Mar del Plata, Argentina  - David Nalbandian kick-started what the hosts were hoping would be a dream weekend for Argentine as he produced a resounding 6-3,
6-2, 6-3 opening defeat of David Ferrer to open the Davis Cup final on Friday.

Spain's Ferrer had no answer for the South American playing in front of a fervent home crowd as Argentina bid for a first Davis Cup title after losing in two previous finals.

"I played a great match and we got the first point of the weekend," said Nalbandian after the victory lasting a shade under two hours. "I hope it can continue like this.

"It was a quick match played at a high level. I'm ready to play doubles tomorrow if the captain needs me."