The head of the British judicial system, Lord Irvine, has said the latest development in the Pinochet case had damaged the legal system.

Lord Irvine was referring to a decision by the highest court in Britain to review the ruling by some of its own judges that the former Chilean military leader was not immune from extradition proceedings.

He said the review -- on the grounds that one of the judges who made the ruling had connections with the human rights organisation, Amnesty International -- tended to bring the legal system into disrepute.

Lord Irvine said it was particularly unfortunate as the eyes of the world were on Britain.