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Spain judge Garzon 'faces trial' Spain judge Garzon 'faces trial'
(10 minutes later)
Spain's most high-profile judge, Baltasar Garzon, is reportedly to stand trial for overreaching his powers over an inquiry into the Franco regime.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.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.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.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. 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.
The case against Mr Garzon originates from a complaint by a right-wing group, Manos Limpias (Clean Hands).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.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.
In February, Mr Varela ruled that Mr Garzon had ignored a 1977 amnesty that covers crimes committed during the civil war. The amnesty law pardoned politically motivated crimes committed by both sides. By guaranteeing that the past would not be raked over, it underpinned Spain's delicate transition from dictatorship to democracy, correspondents say. In February, Mr Varela ruled that Mr Garzon had ignored a 1977 amnesty that covers crimes committed during the civil war.
The amnesty law pardoned politically motivated crimes committed by both sides. By guaranteeing that the past would not be raked over, it underpinned Spain's delicate transition from dictatorship to democracy, correspondents say.
When Mr Garzon began his inquiry in 2008 he announced that exhumations of mass graves for those killed during and after the civil war could begin.When Mr Garzon began his inquiry in 2008 he announced that exhumations of mass graves for those killed during and after the civil war could begin.
When he withdrew from the investigation he transferred responsibility for the exhumations to local courts.When he withdrew from the investigation he transferred responsibility for the exhumations to local courts.
Mr Garzon has strongly denied that he broke the law, and has been supported by the International Commission of Jurists.Mr Garzon has strongly denied that he broke the law, and has been supported by the International Commission of Jurists.