A court in Argentina on Monday convicted and sentenced a doctor and midwife for their roles in abducting newborns from women during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship.

While the sentence was not as long as prosecutors sought, it still was a landmark ruling as the country struggles with its recent past.

The court sentenced retired military doctor Norberto Atilio Bianco, 69, and midwife Yolanda Arroche, 85, to seven-year terms. It acquitted a third accused, doctor Raul Eugenio Martin , 75.

They were tried for working at the secret birthing center at the Campo de Mayo prison.

During the dictatorship, the military took women there who were abducted while pregnant, handcuffed and blindfolded and held until they gave birth.

Their children were then given to military staff or government sympathizers under false names.

The court also sentenced Santiago Omar Riveros, 91, and former dictator Reynaldo Bignone, 86, to terms of 30 and 16 years, respectively. They had been in charge of the military district at the time.

They separately face life in prison, however, for other crimes against humanity.

An estimated 30,000 people were killed or abducted and presumed killed during the dictatorship.