Controversial military promotions in Argentina

The Senate in Argentina has approved promotions for four military officers accused of taking part in a failed uprising in 1987 against the democratically elected government of Raul Alfonsin.

The officers , Jorge Caceres, Luis Candia, Daniel Oneto and Jorge Daura rose to the rank of colonel.

They were part of a group of more than a-hundred-and-seventy soldiers who were promoted.

The Senate voted to investigate the backgrounds of five other officers before making a decision.

The promotions have been sharply criticised by members of the centre-left government, who say the soldiers are linked to gross human rights violations during the period of military rule in Argentina between 1976 and 1983.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service