Most people in Spain praised the decision of the House of Lords in Britain which opens the way for the extradition process against Augusto Pinochet to begin.

Celebrations on the streets and among the thousands of Chileans living in Spain went on late into the night after the ruling was announced.

But after the initial celebrations many in Spain have been reflecting on a decision they had not expected and at first found hard to believe. Most thought the House of Lords would allow General Pinochet to return to Chile.

The left-wing opposition and the newspapers are united in praising the decision as historic. El Pais said a new form of international justice had been born, and it would have been immoral to let General Pinochet go. Diaro 16 said international justice had entered the 21st century. From now on, it added, world leaders who committed crimes would have nowhere to hide.

Hurdles remain

Mr Aznar talks to reporters after the announcement of the ruling: "A responsibility for democracy in Chile"

The lawyers working on the case against General Pinochet have expressed their satisfaction, but acknowledged that there are still many hurdles to be overcome.

All they can do for now is wait for the extradition process in process in Britain to run its course and hope General Pinochet appears in a court in Madrid sooner rather than later.

The judge, Baltasar Garzon, who ordered General Pinochet's arrest and will try him if he does eventually come to Spain, did not issue any immediate reaction, and those close to him said he expressed no emotion when he heard the decision of the House of Lords.

Spain's opposition Socialist Party said justice had spoken and Spain now had an historic duty to try General Pinochet.

Government sensitive

The Conservative government, however, has maintained its cautious stance on the issue. It again said it would allow the courts both in Spain and in Britain to do their work.

It is sensitive about its previously good relations with Chile. The Foreign Minister, Abel Matutes, said he had faith in the maturity of the Chilean people and hoped there would not be reprisals against the more than 40,000 Spaniards living in Chile, or the substantial Spanish investments there.