International law specialist Dr Chaloka Beyani: The UK ruling could be bad news for other dictators

Sophie Thonon told Uruguayan radio that General Alvarez was responsible for the disappearance of French national Roger Julien, who was kidnapped in neighbouring Argentina in 1976 together with his wife and two children.

"It is evident that (Roger) Julien was persecuted by the dictatorship of that time in Uruguay and that the responsibility of Uruguay's military now is pretty clear," Ms Thonon said.

The case follows the ruling by the UK Law Lords that Chile's former leader, Augusto Pinochet, is not immune from prosecution.

They decided the general could be extradited to Spain to face charges of torture and genocide.

Mr Julien, who was born in Uruguay but held a French passport, fled to Argentina in 1973 when Mr Alvarez's regime took power by force.

When Argentina was taken over by a military junta in 1976, Mr Julien was detained and disappeared, allegedly at the request of Uruguay.

"He and his family were already being persecuted in Uruguay before he left," said Ms Thonon, who is representing Mr Julien's son Anatole.

General Alvarez and other leaders of Uruguay's military regime were charged with human rights abuses after democracy was restored in 1984 but were pardoned in 1986.

'UK ruling a catastrophe'

General Pinochet: Now wanted in four countries

Meanwhile, another former Uruguayan dictator has lamented the UK Law Lords' decision not to grant immunity from prosecution to General Pinochet.

Juan Bordaberry the Uruguay daily, La Republica, who counts General Pinochet as a friend, said he was saddened by the ruling which heralded "moral catastrophe''.

"This means the law can no longer be trusted in the world. We are heading towards a moral catastrophe," he added.

The former Uruguay leader was democratically elected president in 1970, but headed a dictatorship with military backing from 1973-76.

The armed forces took total control in 1976 and ruled until 1984.

General Pinochet has been accused of the deaths and disappearance of more than 3,000 people during his rule.