Spain launches truth commission to probe Franco-era crimes

Planned census of civil war and dictatorship victims aims to help families trace relatives

Spain's new government has announced plans to establish a truth commission to investigate crimes against humanity committed by the regime of the former military dictator Francisco Franco, more than 40 years after his death.

Under a new law of historical memory, the criminal records of those convicted for opposing the regime will be wiped and organisations that venerate the memory of the dictator, such as the Fundacion Francisco Franco, will also be outlawed.