Human Rights Watch says the Pinochet regime was responsible for the murder or disappearance of more than 3,000 people and calls on Britain to extradite him for trial as soon as possible.

Secretary of State Mrs Albright: Respect Chile's wishes

Executive director Kenneth Roth said the US stance on General Pinochet was ''tremendously disappointing''.

"The world perceives the US' prolonged silence and wishy-washy statements earlier this week as siding with the Chilean Government trying to avoid justice for Pinochet," he added.

Washington has begun a review of classified documents relating to human rights abuses in the Pinochet era with a view to making them public.

But Mr Roth said a review of documents was no substitute for a policy in support of justice.

The Human Rights Watch annual report notes most dictators commit atrocities because they think they can get away with it, and refusing to bring them to justice simply reinforces that view.

Mr Pinochet (left) and Salvador Allende a month before the coup

General Pinochet faces extradition to Spain on charges of murder and torture after the British House of Lords ruled he was not immune from prosecution.

But the Chilean Government wants him returned. The US said this week that Chile's request demanded significant respect.

The general is now waiting for UK Home Secretary Jack Straw to decide whether to send him to Spain or put him on a plane home.

Commentators say America's stance may be motivated by a desire not to have details of its backing for General Pinochet's 1973 coup dragged up again.

Mr Roth said the US was ''very queasy'' about any justice that it feared might implicate itself.

His group also blasts the US for undermining the fight for human rights by refusing to embrace key international initiatives, such as the establishment of an international criminal court.

Police brutality in Latin America

Turning to Latin America, the annual report blames serious setbacks in human rights on the inability of the police and judiciary to control everyday crime.

It notes that police brutality is evident in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

In Colombia there were 600 political killings in the first half of 1998, many of them carried out by right-wing paramilitary groups.

Human Rights Watch says the Colombian army often fails to make a sufficient distinction between civilians and combatants.

The government is currently negotiating a settlement to its long running conflict with left wing rebel groups.