A court in northern Argentina has sentenced eight ex-army officers to life in jail for killing unarmed activists during military rule.

Twenty-two people, mostly members of the Montoneros rebel group, were tortured and killed on 13 December 1976 after surrendering to the army.

The massacre is named after the town of Margarita Belen where it happened.

The killings are among the most prominent cases of abuse from the 1976-1983 Dirty War era.

After a trial lasting almost a year, the court in the province of Chaco passed the harshest penalty at its disposal for crimes against humanity.

Shortly after the judges read out the sentencing, friends and family of the victims began applauding outside the courthouse....