Spain to exhume poet Lorca's body

A team of forensic experts has begun to excavate a mass grave in southern Spain thought to contain the remains of poet and dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca.

Lorca was killed by Fascist soldiers loyal to General Franco during the early weeks of the Spanish civil war. His literary work and his left-wing views made Lorca a target of Franco's regime.

His remains have rested in an unmarked grave in the area since August 1936.

Historians think he was buried with at least three other men. A victim's family has asked for exhumation and identification of the remains.

Relatives of the poet oppose the exhumation as a disrespectful action to other families who have relatives buried in the area.

Some of his other relatives, however, have expressed willingness to donate DNA samples to aid the identification process.

The project will be held camera free to prevent any publication of unauthorized photographs to protect the families' privacy.