Argentine army in torture ruling

Argentine conscripts have accused some officers of abusing them

About 70 Argentine army officers can be charged with torture of their own soldiers during the 1982 Falklands War, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Over 80 cases are under investigation, including allegations of murder and causing death by starvation.

The court upheld an earlier ruling that the alleged torture could be considered crimes against humanity and rejected a petition to abandon proceedings.

An Argentine veterans' group welcomed the ruling.

"We have been fighting for 27 years for this to become known, we are really satisfied," said Ernesto Alonso, president of the Centre for Falkland Islands Veterans.

"Next week, more soldiers will report about abuses they have suffered."

Cases that are being investigated include the alleged execution of one soldier and the fatal abandonment of another.

Veterans who brought the legal action - all conscripted into service - also say four soldiers starved to death, while several others were staked to the ground as punishment.

Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, under British control since 1833.