BBC News Online: World: Americas

Argentine Dirty War leader keeps silent in court

The head of the Argentine navy during military rule in the 1970s and 1980s, Emilio Massera, has refused to answer questions in court about the disappearance of thousands of people while they were being held at the navy's notorious ESMA interrogation centre.

The court hearing was part of a new federal investigation requested by relatives of those who disappeared during what became known as the "Dirty War", some of whom were in court to question the former junta member personally.

Mr Massera answered, "I am not going to say anything", to twenty questions put to him.

Mr Massera was sentenced to life in prison in 1985, but was pardoned in 1989 by President Carlos Menem.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service