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US auction for Che Guevara's hair Che Guevara hair sold at auction
(about 6 hours later)
Strands of hair taken from the body of Ernesto Che Guevara by a former CIA officer involved in his death are being sold at an auction in the US. Strands of hair taken from the body of Ernesto Che Guevara by a former CIA officer involved in his death have sold for $119,000 (£58,000) at auction.
They are part of a lot also including photos of Che Guevara's dead body and fingerprints taken after he was killed in Bolivia 40 years ago. It sold to the only bidder, who runs a bookshop near Houston, for the reserve price, plus a buyer's premium.
The Dallas sale has prompted protests from Che's widow and his supporters. The Dallas sale prompted protests from Che's widow and his supporters.
The sale is not a first for Heritage Auction Galleries, which has sold locks from the heads of Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.
Bill Butler, 61, placed his bid by telephone for the 3-inch (8cm) strand of Che Guevara's hair.
In the same lot were photographs of the dead revolutionary's body and fingerprints taken after he was shot in Bolivia in 1967.
Mr Butler says he plans to display the hair at his bookshop.
Political icon
Heritage Auction Galleries had tightened security for the sale, because of fears of protests from socialists unhappy that profits were being made from the revolutionary's death.
Che Guevara was trying to foment a revolution in Bolivia when he died
Che is considered an icon by left-wing movements, but critics accuse him of brutally executing his opponents.Che is considered an icon by left-wing movements, but critics accuse him of brutally executing his opponents.
Heritage Auction Galleries have set a minimum bid of $100,000 (£48,755) on the lot. An Argentine who became a Cuban guerrilla leader, the 39-year-old was tracked down and killed in the Bolivian jungle by a group of CIA-backed Bolivian soldiers on 9 October 1967.
'Bandit' A former US intelligence officer, Gustavo Villoldo, who took part in the capture and execution, said he removed the lock of hair and took photos and fingerprints as proof that the mission was completed.
It is these items which have now been auctioned.
Auctioneer Tom Slater said that Mr Villoldo was unhappy with the iconic status Che now has.Auctioneer Tom Slater said that Mr Villoldo was unhappy with the iconic status Che now has.
"He doesn't like the way Che has become a political icon, so he's anxious to get the whole story out," Mr Slater told the AFP news agency."He doesn't like the way Che has become a political icon, so he's anxious to get the whole story out," Mr Slater told the AFP news agency.
"He feels that Che was a murderer and a bandit and it was appropriate to hunt him down.""He feels that Che was a murderer and a bandit and it was appropriate to hunt him down."
An Argentine who became a Cuban guerrilla leader, the 39-year-old was tracked down and killed in the Bolivian jungle by a group of CIA-backed Bolivian soldiers on 9 October 1967.
A former US intelligence officer, Gustavo Villoldo, who took part in the capture and execution, said he removed the lock of hair and took photos and fingerprints as proof that the mission was completed.