Judge cleared of amnesty violations

MADRID, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Spain's Supreme Court Monday cleared Judge Balthazar Garzon of violating a 1977 amnesty law in his investigation of crime in the Francisco Franco era.

Two groups had accused the judge of exceeding his authority by trying to prosecute crimes committed from 1936 to 1975. Garzon said crimes against humanity should not be subjected to amnesty, ThinkSpain reported.

Earlier in February, Garzon was suspended from the bench for 11 years after he was found guilty of illegal phone-tapping in one case. He said he would appeal the conviction.

Garzon was instrumental in the 1998 arrest of the former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet in London.