Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Argentina's 'Blond Angel of Death' Goes on Trial

   Alfredo  Astiz,  a  former  Argentine  navy captain on trial in Buenos
   Aires   for  alleged  involvement  in  disappearance  and  torture  of
   dissidents during country's 1976-1983 military dictatorship

   VOA News 11 December 2009
   Alfredo  Astiz  attends  his  trial in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 11 Dec
   2009

Photo: AP

   Alfredo  Astiz  attends  his  trial in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 11 Dec
   2009

   A  former Argentine navy captain has gone on trial in Buenos Aires for
   his alleged involvement in the disappearance and torture of dissidents
   during the country's 1976 to 1983 military dictatorship .
   Alfredo  Astiz,  known  as  the  "Blond Angel of Death," is accused of
   multiple  crimes  that include the killings of two French nuns and the
   disappearance  of  an  Argentine  journalist.   Eighteen  other former
   military  officers  are  also  on  trial  with  Astiz in the Argentine
   capital.
   Astiz was tried and convicted in absentia by a Paris court in 1990 for
   the  nuns'  murders.   They  were  apparently kidnapped and killed for
   helping anti-government activists in Argentina.
   Official  estimates  say some 13,000 people died or disappeared during
   the  military crackdown on leftist activists known as the "dirty war."
   Human rights groups put the toll at 30,000.

.