Ex-minister questioned on abductions

BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A former Argentine interior minister was detained for questioning Tuesday about his alleged ties to two abductions during the country's former dictatorship.

Albano Harguindeguy was taken from his home and questioned before a judge. He was put under house arrest, La Nacion reported online Tuesday.

Harguindeguy was questioned about two kidnappings that supposedly took place during Argentina's so-called Dirty War (1976-1983) when about 30,000 allegedly were killed or disappeared on orders of military leaders.

Argentina has been cracking down on former "Dirty War: leaders in recent years, rescinding a previous law that gave former heads of government and the military immunity from prosecution.

Spanish officials agreed this month to extradite an Argentine man back to his home country where he faces charges of torture and rights violations.

Eduardo Almiron is accused of belonging to a death squad that killed and maimed Argentines in the years before the "Dirty War."