Pinochet faces questioning

Pinochet was to be tested to see if he is fit to stand trial

The Chilean Supreme Court has backed a judge's decision to submit the former military leader, General Augusto Pinochet, to medical tests and a formal interrogation, starting this Sunday.

The court also rejected a request by the defence to throw the judge, Juan Guzman, off the case.

In a BBC interview, one of General Pinochet's lawyers insisted that their client would not attend either the tests, which are to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial, nor the questioning.

Legal experts say if General Pinochet does not turn up, Mr Guzman will be entitled to re-issue his order to arrest and indict him on kidnap and murder charges.

Caravan of Death

Lawyers acting for General Pinochet argue that there is not enough time between the tests and the interrogation for the test results to be known.

They say the judge should not be allowed to interrogate the 85-year-old general before it has been determined whether or not he is fit to stand trial.

They accuse Judge Guzman of not having followed court rulings regarding the tests and called for him to be dismissed from the case.

General Pinochet faces kidnapping and murder charges relating to the notorious "Caravan of Death" that toured Chile shortly after the 1973 military coup in which he took power.

Disappeared

In a separate move, the armed forces and church groups in Chile on Friday handed over to President Ricardo Lagos information relating to people who disappeared during General Pinochet's rule.

Earlier this year, the armed forces signed an accord with human rights and church representatives to try to clarify the fate of more than 1,000 people whose whereabouts remain unknown.

The agreement set a deadline of six months for the data to be submitted, which expires on Saturday, and guaranteed anonymity for any member or former member of the military providing information.

Some families of the missing criticised the accord as guaranteeing impunity for the armed forces. President Lagos is due to forward the information to the courts on Monday.

General Pinochet, 85, faces kidnapping and murder charges relating to the notorious "Caravan of Death" that toured Chile shortly after the 1973 military coup in which he took power.