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BUENOS AIRES: Former Argentinean President Raúl Alfonsín, whose presidency came to symbolise the return of democracy across Latin America from an era of military dictatorships, passed away here.Alfonsín's personal doctor, Alberto Sadler, said the former president died of lung cancer yesterday. He was 82.The presidential inauguration of the leader on 10 December 1983, ended more than seven years of a repressive military regime that left at least 12,000 disappeared. He won an open election that the military was forced to call, in disgrace after the country's defeat in the 1982 war with Britain over the Falkland Islands.His presidency was marked by two milestones: his daring decision to bring to try the leaders of the dictatorship for the human rights violations, and an economic collapse that made him hand power to his successor six month before his term was to end. Inflation had jumped to over 3,000% annually.
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