Red Cross exhumes Argentine remains in Falklands

The remains of 121 unknown soldiers were buried at Darwin military cemetery on the remote South Atlantic islands, known in Spanish as Malvinas, at the end of the 1982 war.

Laurent Corbaz, head of an international group of forensic experts assembled by the Red Cross for the project, told journalists in Buenos Aires that "the exhumation phase" of the project had been completed.

Samples from the 121 remains have been sent to a laboratory in the Argentine province of Cordoba where the process of identification has already begun, he said.

Until now, the soldiers had been buried under white crosses in Darwin cemetery bearing the legend: "Argentine soldier known only by God."

Although the discovery of 123 crucifixes led to initial assumptions there would be a corresponding number of remains, the remains of only 121 soldiers were recovered, the expert said.

"Half the samples have been analyzed and with DNA in good condition that allows us to establish a genetic profile," said Corbaz.

"We are optimistic that a good proportion of the soldiers can be identified," said Corbaz.

Corbaz leads a 12-member Red Cross team composed of forensic specialists from Argentina, Britain, Spain, Chile, Mexico and Australia.

He said they expect to be able to send individual reports on the remains to the Argentine authorities in November.

Work to exhume and identify the remains began in June after an agreement last year between Argentina and Britain.

The 10-week conflict killed 649 soldiers, 255 British soldiers and three islanders.

The islands are governed by Britain but still claimed by Argentina.