The man who was head of the Argentine navy when military rule ended in 1983has been arrested as part of a lengthy investigation into the stealing of babies from political prisoners.

Retired admiral Ruben Franco was detained after being questioned by the judge leading the investigation.

Several high-ranking officers including the former military leader, Jorge Rafael Videla have already been arrested.

It's estimated that between two-hundred and four-hundred babies born in detention centres were taken from their mothers and given to childless couples in the Argentine police and military during the seventies and eighties.