The Chilean president Eduardo Frei has held a lengthy meeting with the leaders of the three other parties that -together with his Christian Democrat party- make up the governing coalition in Chile.

President Frei was seeking their wholehearted support for the government position of asking for the return of former military leader Augusto Pinochet from London, where he is awaiting a decision on extradition to Spain to face charges of crimes against humanity.

The issue has divided the Christian Democrats and the Socialist Party, some of whose leading members have expressed agreement with General Pinochet being tried abroad.

At the end of the meeting, all the participants stressed they were united on the Pinochet issue.