ARGENTINA: ARGENTINE 'DIRTY WAR' SUSPECT ALFREDO ASTIZ APPEARS IN COURT TO FACE POSSIBLE EXTRADITION TO FRANCE

Record ID: 649162

  • Title: ARGENTINA: ARGENTINE 'DIRTY WAR' SUSPECT ALFREDO ASTIZ APPEARS IN COURT TO FACE POSSIBLE EXTRADITION TO FRANCE
  • Date: 17th September 2003
  • Summary: (U5) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2003) (REUTERS) GATE BEING CLOSED BY SECURITY OFFICER VARIOUS OF VEHICLE CARRYING ASTIZ EXITING COURTHOUSE; POLICE HOLDING MEDIA AT BAY (2 SHOTS) SLV: COURTHOUSE VARIOUS OF JORGE "TIGER" ACOSTA ARRIVING AT COURTHOUSE IN VAN AND GOING UP THE STEPS (2 SHOTS) POLICE VEHICLE LEAVING COURTHOUSE VARIOUS EXTERIOR SHOTS OF MILITARY BASE IN WHICH ASTIZ WAS DETAINED (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 2nd October 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: General,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA6CODXB1QWGA0Z5Y4NGG5ZWL79
  • Story Text: Argenine 'Dirty War' suspect Alfredo Astiz appears in court facing possible extradition to France.
    Former Argentine navy officer Alfredo Astiz, known as the "Blond Angel of Death" for his role in the 1976-83 dictatorship, appeared in court on Wednesday (September 17) to face possible extradition to France for a fresh trial in the murder of two French nuns.
    Astiz was convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison by French courts in 1990, but the Argentine judge who ordered Tuesday's (September 16) arrest told Reuters that Astiz would only be extradited if he was allowed a new trial in person in France.
    A government spy with boyish good looks, Astiz infiltrated rights groups during the dictatorship and is accused of identifying some victims to be kidnapped and murdered by kissing them during a church service.
    Astiz has already been arrested and released on separate charges in the last 90 days as Argentine courts renew prosecution of officials involved in the dictatorship's so-called "Dirty War" against suspected leftists, which killed up to 30,000 people.
    New Argentine President Nestor Kirchner in July annulled a decree that had prevented the extradition of Argentines suspected of human rights crimes during the regime.
    But legal analysts widely expect that Argentina is unlikely to extradite any former officials like Astiz, preferring instead to judge them at home. To that end, Congress annulled 1980s-era amnesty laws last month, but the Supreme Court has yet to make a final decision.
    Kirchner came to power in May pledging to end a
    "culture of impunity" that he blamed for Argentina's recent economic collapse.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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