A man attempted to shoot Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner near her home in Buenos Aires on Thursday, the country's president said. 

Several television channels broadcast footage showing the man pointing a small handgun at the vice president at close range as she was getting out of a car and she ducked as the weapon was aimed. 

But the gun failed to fire, even though it was loaded, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said. 

"Cristina remains alive because, for a reason not yet technically confirmed, the gun, which contained five bullets, did not fire," Fernandez said in an address to the nation. 

"This is the most serious event we have gone through since Argentina returned to democracy," he said.

In a video of the incident, a clicking sound can be heard as the gun is aimed toward Kirchner. 

The assailant, who authorities identified as a 35-year-old man of Brazilian origin, was quickly arrested by police and the weapon was seized.

Security minister Anibal Fernandez said the police would open an investigation.  

"Now, the situation has to be analyzed by our scientific people to evaluate the fingerprints and the capacity and propensity this person had," he said. 

(With input from AFP and Reuters)