Dutch-Argentinian pilot Julio Poch has been released on bail in Argentina. He stands accused of involvement in the death flights during Argentinia's military rule between 1976 and 1983 in which opponents of the regime were thrown out of airplanes alive.

Mr Poch, who denies the allegations, had to pay 26,000 euros in bail and is not allowed to leave the country. His lawyer says his client is exhausted by all the tension but is otherwise in good health.

Mr Poch was arrested in September last year in Spain at the request of an Argentinian judge. In October Argentinian judges ruled that the charges brought against him failed to show he was involved in the death flights and ordered the Public Prosecutor to bring fresh charges.

On 10 January, an examining judge in The Hague will hear twelve former colleagues of Mr Poch, eight for the defence and four at the request of the Argentinian examining magistrate.

During the dictatorship, Mr Poch was a pilot for the Argentinian Navy. Later he moved to the Netherlands, where we worked for Transavia. Colleagues at the airline reported him to the police after he boasted about being involved in the death flights. Mr Poch has always protested his innocence.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide