Chilean judge seeks to question Kissinger

Chileans demonstrate over to the 'disappeared'

Chilean judge Juan Guzman is seeking to question former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger over the fate of a US journalist who disappeared in Chile during the 1973 coup.

The story of the journalist, Charles Horman, was made famous by the 1982 Hollywood film "Missing", which starred Jack Lemmon as his father.

Horman's family have long maintained that the US State Department knew he had been arrested, but did nothing to prevent his disappearance.

Horman was last seen on 17 September 1973 in Chile's National Stadium, which was used to hold alleged opponents of the new military regime led by General Augusto Pinochet.

US links to coup

Horman was investigating possible links between the CIA and the Pinochet coup at the time of his disappearance.

Mr Kissinger would not answer French questions

Judge Guzman on Wednesday sent a list of written questions he wishes to put to Mr Kissinger via Chile's Surpeme Court, which must decide whether to forward them to the US State Department.

Earlier this year Mr Kissinger, who was head of the US State Department from 1973 to 1977, refused to answer questions from a French court over disappearances of French citizens after the Pinochet coup.

General Pinochet is facing charges related to a military death squad accused of killing opponents of the regime in the months after the coup.

A ruling as to whether he is mentally fit to stand trial is due to be made soon.