An episode of 'The Simpsons' is causing a storm in Argentina for one controversial line about former president Juan Peron.

The line comes when Homer's friend Carl calls for a dictatorship during a barroom argument about democracy, reports Variety.

He praises Peron, saying: 'When he disappeared you, you stayed disappeared.'

However, it was not Peron's regime but the military dictatorship following his rule that has been linked to the disappearance of 30,000 dissidents.

The show, episode 10 of series 19, isn't due to air in Argentina until June or July, but has already been caught up in a political row after it was shown in the US.

However, the segment on YouTube had an estimated 12,000 viewings in Argentina over the weekend.

Former congressman Lorenzo Pepe, a supporter of Juan Peron, called on Argentina's broadcasting regulator to intervene.

However it is not clear what action the regulator could take, having ruled out censorship.