BOLIVIA: REMAINS OF CHE GUEVARA POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED

(12 Jul 1997) Natural Sound Forensic specialists confirmed on Saturday they had discovered the remains of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, nearly 30 years after he was slain. The remains were found in a common grave in Bolivia two weeks ago. His remains and those of three other Cuban soldiers are being flown back to Cuba late Saturday. Nearly 30 years after his death, the spirit of "Che" Guevara lives on. Che was Cuba's second most influential leader, helping Fidel Castro to overthrow Cuban ruler Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Che remains a figure of almost mythic proportions to some, a terrorist to others. His bearded image became a symbol of a generation. His remains were found in a common grave in Bolivia two weeks ago. The skeletons were examined under tight security by Argentine, Cuban and Bolivian forensic anthropologists. The teeth and structure of facial bones as well as the bullet marks on the bones helped convince the experts that they had at last found Guevara's remains. But the telltale sign for most of them was that Guevara's skeleton was found without its hands. After a Bolivian officer executed Guevara in October 1967, the rebel leader's hands were severed and taken to Cuba. Each set of remains was placed in a wooden box made by Bolivian artisans - before being flown back to Cuba on Saturday. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...