Argentina ex-president testifies now-annulled 'Dirty War' amnesty laws ...

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Former Argentine President Raul Alfonsin has testified that amnesty laws preventing prosecution for human rights abuses during the so-called Dirty War of the late 1970s and early 80s helped to prevent rebellion during the transition from military rule to democracy. Nevertheless, Alfonsin said he "felt pained in enacting the laws" and was "relieved" when the Argentine Supreme Court struck them down last year. Alfonsin, president of Argentina from 1983 to 1989, appeared as a defense witness Wednesday at the trial of Miguel Osvaldo Etchecolatz , former chief investigator of the Buenos Aires province police, who is charged with murder, kidnapping and torture in connection with the disappearances of six people during the Dirty War. At least 13,000 dissidents are estimated to have "disappeared" during the military junta's campaign against its domestic opponents from 1976 to 1983.

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