Spanish poet's grave to be opened in private at request of family

The common grave where Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, murdered at the outbreak of Spain's 1936-39 civil war, is thought to be buried will be opened in private at the request of his family, a court has ruled.

National Audience judge Santiago Pedraz ordered that "measures be taken that guarantee the privacy and the dignity of the victims and their family members" during the opening of the grave in southern Spain where three others are also believed to be buried.

He also ruled that the family be informed of when the exhumation will take place and that they be allowed to attend.