MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ex-Argentine dictator leaves house arrest for military prison

Former Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla was taken to a military prison Friday, after a federal judge revoked the benefit of house arrest that he had enjoyed for 10 years.

Court sources said that Videla, 83, was taken to the Campo de Mayo military prison near Buenos Aires, in line with a decision by federal judge Norberto Oyarbide. Videla was charged with kidnapping the children of political opponents and leftists, and putting them up for adoption. The children disappeared during his dictatorship from 1976-1983. According to human rights organizations, the military regime caused the disappearance of an estimated 30,000 people - most have never been traced. Argentine law grants the benefit of house arrest to people over 70. But judge Oyarbide said that the military jail at Campo de Mayo "has the equipment, infrastructure and personnel required" to handle any medical emergencies that the elderly Videla might have.