MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Blond angel of death” arrested.

The notorious former Argentine Navy officer Alfredo Astiz, also known as the “blond angel of death”, has been rearrested in connection with alleged human rights abuses during the 1976/1983 military rule.

Last August Mr. Astiz, with 39 former military officers, was also taken into custody following warrants issued by Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon. However he was later released when the Spanish government decided not to seek extradition following the repeal by the Argentine Congress of immunity legislation.

This Tuesday Mr. Astiz, and twelve other officers, was ordered arrested by Federal Judge Sergio Torres in connection with allegations of torture during the military regime in the infamous Navy Mechanical School. Among the other twelve officers is a former Navy captain, Jorge Acosta, "the Tiger" allegedly involved in the stealing of babies from military regime political prisoners.

Mr. Astiz who surrendered to the Royal Navy in South Georgia during the South Atlantic conflict in 1982 faces a second custody warrant from Judge Alcindo Alvarez Canale following an extradition request from France.

In 1991 Mr. Astiz was given a life sentence in absentia by a French court because of his involvement in the killing of two French nuns, Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet in 1977. France has repeatedly requested the former Navy captain extradition.

Successive amnesty laws passed by the civilian governments that followed the military Junta enabled Argentine officers to avoid prosecution. However under the Kirchner administration immunity legislation has been repealed and Argentine judges are reopening many of the cases.