Guatemala's former dictator Efrain Rios Montt dies aged 91

Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt has died aged 91.

Guatemala's former dictator Efrain Rios Montt dies aged 91

Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt has died aged 91.

Lawyer Jaime Hernandez says the cause of death was a heart attack on Sunday.

Rios Montt seized power in a 1982 coup and presided over one of the bloodiest periods of Guatemala's civil war as soldiers waged a scorched-earth campaign to root out Marxist guerrillas.

Rios Montt was convicted in 2013 of genocide and crimes against humanity for the massacre of 1,771 indigenous Ixil Mayans by security forces under his command.

But the ruling was swiftly set aside and a new trial ordered, dismaying human rights activists and victims who long sought to see him punished for atrocities during his 17-month regime.

He is survived by his daughter Zury Rios.

- PA

more courts articles

Man admits killing Irish pensioner (87) on mobility scooter in London Man admits killing Irish pensioner (87) on mobility scooter in London
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court to face sex charges Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court to face sex charges
Case against Jeffrey Donaldson to be heard in court Case against Jeffrey Donaldson to be heard in court

More in this section

Hainault incident Sword-wielding man arrested after five people stabbed in east London
Zhang Yongzhen Chinese scientist who published first covid sequence protests lab eviction
Samsung reports 10-fold increase in profit as AI drives rebound for memory chips Samsung reports 10-fold increase in profit as AI drives rebound for memory chips
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited