The Honduran Committee for the Defense of Human Rights appeared to confirm Torres's charges to some degree, by reporting an increase in the number of political disappearances nationwide.

He is now in danger of political disappearance.

The court ruled that no statute of limitations applied to political "disappearances," presumed deaths where no body has been found.

In the 70's, officials from the directorate, the federal judicial police and the army formed the White Brigade, a force that human rights investigators said was linked to political disappearances.

The commission set about gathering evidence on political disappearances, as well as killings during the dictatorship.

Argentine reporters rarely ask her about the political disappearances anymore.

GAM, Guatemala's internationally recognized human rights group, pressed the government for an inquiry into political disappearances, although their appeals were largely ignored.

The sudden political disappearance of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, struggling for life after a massive stroke, has thrown the future of any peace process with the Palestinians into question.

In the struggle concerning whether the country is to be Western- or Russian-oriented, political activity must never lead to political disappearances and to people's lives and health being threatened.

The exceptions are four people directly linked to the political disappearances and the chair of Belarus's Central Electoral Commission.