Retired Argentine army colonel Alberto Barda, 80, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for crimes committed during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, according to a court ruling announced on television.

Two other convicted former military officials, Hipolito Mariani and Cesar Comes, both 82 years old, were sentenced to 25 years behind bars for kidnapping and torture.

Human rights groups estimate 30,000 people were killed or went missing during the former military junta`s crackdown against political dissidents and left-wing groups.