Argentina jails for life 15 'dirty war' cops

Courts in Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata Tuesday sentenced 15 former military and police officers from Argentina's "dirty war" to life in prison for taking part in human rights violations during the military dictatorship.

The sentences were announced on the eve of a sentencing hearing for ex-dictator Jorge Videla, 85, who faces a possible life sentence for killing dissidents during his 1976-1981 rule.

In the resort city of Mar del Plata, 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Buenos Aires, a former army officer and two ex-marines were convicted of kidnapping and torturing nine opposition members at a navy facility in the port city during the 1976-1983 regime.

The Justice Information Center also said eight former police officers, a prison guard, a national police captain and two officers, were found guilty in Buenos Aires of more than 100 kidnappings and murders in three detention centers.

Another four former civilian, army and police intelligence agents were sentenced in Buenos Aires to 25 years in prison for their role in human rights violations during the military dictatorship, the center said.

With Tuesday's convictions, a total of 131 people have been convicted of crimes in the military dictatorship's war on leftist insurgents, after courts in 2003 revoked two amnesty laws from 1986 and 1987.

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