Spanish court releases Argentine death flight captain

A judge in Spain has ordered the release from prison of a former Argentine military officer who has confessed to taking part in killings of civilians under Argentine military rule in the 1970s and 80s.

The officer, Adolfo Scilingo, went to Spain voluntarily last October to give evidence to an inquiry into the disappearence of hundreds of Spaniards during that period.

He was arrested when he confessed to participating in what have become known as death flights, in which thousands of supposed opponents of the Argentine government were pushed, heavily drugged but alive, from aircraft into the sea.

Under the terms of his release, Mr Scilingo will have to report every week to a judge.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service