Court delays Pinochet interrogation

The Chilean Supreme Court has postponed the interrogation of the former military leader, General Augusto Pinochet, which was due to take place tomorrow Wednesday.

The court decided that the investigating judge, Juan Guzman, should wait until General Pinochet has had medical tests to see if he is fit to stand trial.

It gave Mr Guzman twenty days to have the examinations carried out.

The BBC Santiago correspondent says the ruling is a surprise, but General Pinochet's lawyers have welcome it, while those seeking his prosecution hope the judge will re-issue murder and kidnap charges once the questioning is concluded. Mr Guzman is investigating allegations that General Pinochet masterminded a military unit which killed more than seventy political prisoners shortly after the coup in 1973.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service