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Former Uruguayan president sentenced to 30 years

Women whose children disappeared in the last military dictatorship celebrate Bordaberry's detention in 2006.
Women whose children disappeared in the last military dictatorship celebrate Bordaberry's detention in 2006.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Juan Maria Bordaberry assumed presidency in 1972
  • He backed a military coup in 1973 that kept him in power
  • Judge convicts him of political homicide, forced disappearance
  • Military pushes Bordaberry out in 1976
RELATED TOPICS
  • Uruguay
  • South America

Montevideo, Uruguay (CNN) -- A court sentenced former Uruguayan President Juan Maria Bordaberry to 30 years in prison on Wednesday for the coup that consolidated his power in 1973 and for human rights violations.

Judge Mariana Mota convicted Bordaberry of violating the constitution, nine counts of "forced disappearance" and two counts of political homicide.

Bordaberry, 81, had already been under house arrest since 2007 for the killings of two opposition legislators in 1976.

Bordaberry assumed office in 1972 following an election that has since been questioned. In 1973, he backed a military coup that kept him in power, and dissolved congress and suspended the country's constitution. The military pushed him out in favor of another leader in 1976.

Journalist Dario Klein contributed to this report for CNN