Life sentence for Argentine ex-army chief

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- A former army commander in Argentina was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for his role in the kidnapping, torture and death of four activists in 1977.

Luciano Benjamin Menendez led a major branch of the Argentine military during a "dirty war" that led to the torture and death of thousands of people in secret detention centers.

A junta that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983 launched the "dirty war" against dissidents and subversives.

About 13,000 people were killed during the dictatorship, according to official numbers, but human rights groups claim the number is closer to 30,000, The Associated Press reported.

Judges sentenced Menendez to life in prison for the kidnapping of four young militants in the Revolutionary Worker's Party in November 1977, according to Telam, the Argentine National News Agency.

Four former officials received the same sentence Thursday for their roles in the kidnapping and torture of the four students. Three others were sentenced to between 18 and 22 years in prison.

Several legislators were present for the sentencing, along with the nation's top human rights official and prominent human rights activists.

Menendez claimed he had acted in a "war to save the country from communism," and he argued that it is wrong to punish military leaders who prevented Argentina from falling under communist control, the news agency reported.

Hours before the sentencing, an unrepentant Menendez read a statement in front of live television cameras saying the regime's repression had been justified in the face of a leftist militant threat.

"We had to take appropriate measures," he said in an AP report.

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