Argentine extraditions sought of Spain

A judge asked Spain’s government to seek the extradition from Argentina of 25 former military officers and a civilian indicted for crimes committed during that country’s 1976-1983 military dictatorship.

Judge Baltasar Garzon is trying to put a total of 46 Argentines on trial in Spain for crimes including genocide, terrorism and torture.

He is seeking their extradition under a Spanish law that says crimes like genocide can be tried in Spain even if they were not committed there.

He is expected to ask the government later this week to seek the extradition of another 17.

Three of the 46 remain at large in Argentina, but the others have been arrested or were already under house arrest when Garzon issued arrest orders in July and an Argentine judge complied.