FORMER HEADS OF THE URUGUAYAN MILITARY TOOK FULL RESPONSIBILITY THURSDAY FOR ANY HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING URUGUAY'S LAST MILITARY DICTATORSHIP, IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THEIR SUBORDINATES FROM STANDING TRIAL, DPA REPORTED. IN AN OPEN LETTER, THE 10 FORMER LEADERS OF THE MILITARY, GOING BACK TO 1978, SAID THEY "ASSUME FULL INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EVENTUAL CONSEQUENCES" FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP OF 1973 TO 1985. DURING THAT PERIOD, URUGUAY HAD THE LARGEST NUMBER OF POLITICAL PRISONERS OF ANY COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL INVESTIGATORY COMMISSION. POLICE AND THE MILITARY ARRESTED POLITICAL OPPONENTS, RANSACKED THEIR HOMES AND SYSTEMATICALLY TORTURED THEM IN PRISON, ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSION. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE SAID THAT AT LEAST 200 PEOPLE DIED IN JAILS DURING THAT PERIOD. --More
