Nation's longest-serving inmate gets full pardon

Spain's longest-serving prisoner was fully pardoned on Friday. The Cabinet moved to ratify a decision by the previous Zapatero government last month that allowed for a partial pardon of Miguel Francisco Montes Neiro, who has spent the last 35 years behind bars - more than half his life.

But the 61-year-old Andalusian, considered the country's longest-serving common prisoner, won't get out soon. His lawyer said that the Cabinet's decision means that Montes will be allowed parole on the condition that he doesn't commit any more crimes, but it will be up to the Granada High Court to release him based on the government's decision. The Socialist government decided to shave four years off the current 12-year sentence he has been serving for robbery and weapons charges.