Jacobo Timerman, chronicler of Argentina's 'dirty war' abuses, dies at 76

                  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Jacobo Timerman, an Argentine
                  author who wrote about his experiences of torture and abuse as a political
                  prisoner during the country's "dirty war," died Thursday of a heart attack, his
                  family said. He was 76.

                  The writer and former journalist had been recuperating from a heart attack
                  he suffered earlier this year. He died in his downtown Buenos Aires
                  apartment, his son, Hector told The Associated Press.

                  One of Argentina's most distinguished journalists, Timerman became the
                  focus of an international human rights campaign after he was hauled away in
                  1977 by Argentine military forces. In a crackdown on all dissenting press,
                  authorities had already shut down his liberal newspaper, La Opinion.

                  He was eventually released two years later.

                  His two years of captivity eventually became fodder for his 1981 book,
                  "Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number," a gripping story of the
                  abuse and torture he suffered at the hands of the Argentine military as it
                  sought to stifle its political opponents and other dissidents.

                  The book won international acclaim and drew attention to the
                  disappearances of thousands of people during the seven-year rule by the
                  military.

                  An Argentine government report says 9,000 leftists and other political
                  dissidents disappeared under the dictatorship; human rights groups say the
                  figure is as high as 30,000.

                  Timerman is survived by his three sons, Hector, Daniel, and Javier.
                  Memorial services will be held Friday in a private cemetery in the province
                  of Buenos Aires.

                    Copyright 1999 The Associated Press.