MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Twenty years on Galtieri keeps a dignified silence.

Two decades after the Falklands War the swaggering general who headed Argentina's military junta at the time lives a secluded life in a middle class Buenos Aires suburb courteously declining to speak to the press who track him down with the hope of getting an interview.

Now 75 and out of the public eye for almost twenty years retired Lieutenant General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri lives in the same first floor flat in the Villa Devoto area where he lived before becoming Argentina's strongman in December 1981.

A father of three with grandchildren to look after Galtieri lives a quiet life with his wife Lucia "Lucy" Gentile, rarely is appearing at public events or in the press, but regularly seen doing the shopping in the area where he is largely ignored by his neighbours.

Since quitting office as de facto President of Argentina on 17 June 1982 in the aftermath of the Argentine surrender in Port Stanley and in the midst of an outbreak of public indignation, Galtieri has consistently tried to keep a low profile despite facing years of legal prosecution for his role in both in the Falkland's War and in Argentina's earlier Dirty War on terrorism.

In 1983 he gave his last known interview in which he criticised fellow Army officers for their roles during the Falkland's War and was immediately arrested and prosecuted for incompetence in the leadership of Argentina during the conflict.

He also faced numerous charges in a separate case investigating his role in human rights violations and was put on trail in 1984 but, while under arrest, he benefited from a blanket presidential pardon by then-incoming President Menem in October 1989 and was released from prison.

Since then he has only appeared in public on few occasions, mainly as result of being door-stepped by journalists. His last major public appearance took place in May last when the Army invited him to the annual Army Day celebrations held at the Military College in Buenos Aires much to the embarrassment of the Commander-in-Chief, then-President Fernando de la Rua.

But arguably the most noteworthy aspect of his life has been the prudent silence he has opted for, "Galtieri has chosen a dignified silence and this is to his credit" says one neighbour who regularly sees him on his walks down Chivilcoy Street.

"Considering the sort of outrageous things we are now see and hear from bent politicians, crooked bankers and other prominent corrupt people, Galtieri has at least had the good sense to ke