General ends 30-hour revolt in Argentina

Press, 2 October 1979, Page 9

General ends 30-hour revolt in Argentina

: NZPA-Reuter Buenos Aires i I A revolt by an Argentine - general and his army sup- ; porters has ended after the . hard-line general met the • High Command and backed ■ down. A communique said that ) Major-General Luciano Men-; ■ endez had agreed during a i one-hour meeting with the : army chief. General Roberto i Viola, to end his rebellion,, - and the situation was res turning to normal. > General Menendez was re--1 moved from his command in the central city of Cordoba , at the week-end after des manding the resignation of - General Viola for allegedly ’ failing to eradicate Left-wing guerrilla activity. ‘I He established his headquarters at a police college

near Cordoba and refused to hand over command of the 3rd Army Corps. Troops loyal to General Menendez, said by military sources to be fewer than 3000, were reported to have :set up roadblocks near the college. General Menendez flew the 700 km to Buenos Aires for the meeting and later returned to Cordoba. ■ The communique said General Jose Vaquero, appointed by the High Command to replace General Menendez, was in command of the 3rd Army Corps. About 4000 paratroopers armed with mortars, mach-ine-guns. and light artillery surrounded the rebel headquarters, but the 30-hour revolt apparently passed without a shot being fired.