Alfredo Astiz appears before civilian tribunal in Argentina

A former officer in the Argentine Navy, Alfredo Astiz, has appeared before a civilian tribunal investigating the killings and torture carried out during military rule in the 1970s and 80s.

Mr Astiz, who has defended his involvement in human rights violations, was subjected to verbal abuse from waiting crowds as he arrived for the hearing in Buenos Aires.

Legal officials say his evidence shed little new light on the fate of people who disappeared at the hands of the military.

Last week, the Argentine navy confined Mr Astiz to a base for two months after he used a magazine interview to defend his actions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service