Spanish judge Garzon 'faces trial' over Franco probe

[cali]

Judge Baltasar Garzon, 25 March 2010


Spain's most high-profile judge, Baltasar Garzon, is reportedly to stand trial for overreaching his powers over an inquiry into the Franco regime.

Mr Garzon launched the investigation into atrocities committed during the four-decade rule of General Francisco Franco in October 2008.

But it was shelved amid opposition from prosecutors and other judges.

Mr Garzon is famous for targeting international figures including Augusto Pinochet and Osama Bin Laden.

Supreme Court investigating magistrate Luciano Varela was expected to announce later on Wednesday that the judge's trial would go ahead, according to Spanish media reports.

Amnesty law

The case against Mr Garzon originates from a complaint by a right-wing group, Manos Limpias (Clean Hands).


It claimed he had knowingly exceeded his official remit in launching an investigation into tens of thousands of disappearances during Spain's 1936-1939 Civil War and under the Franco regime that followed.

<snip>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8606910.stm

[rpannier]

1. Clean Hands

Well...I guess they must be honest and forthright

Because they'd never lie and call themselves that

:sarcasm: