Guatemala Starts Landmark Trial

Guatemala's first trial on 'forced disappearance' charges began Monday in connection with six civilians who went missing during the nation's 36-year civil war.

The term 'forced disappearance' refers to state-sponsored abductions in which the victim is never seen again or accounted for. The war between leftist guerrillas and the government left about 200,000 dead and 40,000 missing before a peace agreement was reached in 1996.

Felipe Cusanero, a former farmer and member of civilian paramilitary forces active during the war, appeared in court Monday to face charges that he was responsible for six disappearances between November 1982 and October 1984. Read more