World: Americas

Baby stealing arrest in Argentina

The eyes of the disappeared

Argentina's last military president, Reynaldo Bignone, has been arrested as part of an ongoing
investigation into the theft of babies from political prisoners in the 1970s.

The 71-year-old retired general, who led the country from 1982 until the return to democracy a year
later, was questioned before his arrest for three hours by a federal judge, Adolfo Bagnasco.

The general is reported to have beeen taken to a military base on the outskirts of Buenos Aires,
though his lawyers say he should be placed under house arrest.

Eight other military officers are already in custody, including General Jorge Rafael Videla, who led a
military coup in 1976. Most of them have been placed under arrest due to old age as they are more
than 70-years-old.

Systematic plan

Reynaldo Bignone is accused of taking part in a systematic plan to

kidnap hundreds of babies born to political prisoners during Argentina's
years of military rule.

Human rights groups say that babies born to women held at detention
centres would be given to military and police couples. Once they had
given birth, the mothers would usually be killed.

The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, an Argentinian pressure group, say

they have loctaed 58 abducted children, 50 of whom are still alive with
the majority reunited with their legitimate families.
Jorge Videla: Pardoned for crimes
during his rule
The BBC South America Correspondent, James Reynolds, says the
arrest of General Bignone gives further momentum to the two-year investigation.

Argentina's former military leaders were pardoned in 1990 by President Carlos Menem for
most crimes committed during the country's years of military rule, in which more than
10,000 people are thought to have been killed. But this pardon did not cover the kidnapping
of babies.