A former Argentinean army general who led troops in the Falklands war has been arrested over his role in committing alleged crimes against humanity, during the country’s 1976-83 military dictatorship.
82-year-old Mario Menéndez was arrested from his home in Buenos Aires along with 15 others and will be transported to the northern province of Tucumán, where the alleged crimes took place. He stands accused of crimes against humanity whilst leading “Operation Independence” against left wing activists and militants during the country’s “Dirty War”
The 1975 operation is thought to have killed over 700 people, in a war that saw over 30,000 people “disappeared” or murdered.
Earlier this year, former military junta leaders Jorge Videla and Reynaldo Bignone were jailed for the systematic theft of babies from political prisoners.
See our earlier post: Argentina junta leaders jailed for baby theft (05 July 2012)
