The indictments investigated by Spanish Judge Baltazar Garzon relate to acts said to have been committed during General Pinochet's 17-rule in Chile.

The charges allege that the acts of torture were carried out by officials under orders from General Pinochet, who is said to have agreed while in office that political opponents should be abducted and subjected to pain and sexual abuse.

They broadly set out allegations of the general's involvement in acts of abductions, torture, and at least 4,000 deaths.

More specific charges deal with incidents of abuse said to have been suffered by particular individuals:

Jose Marcelino Gonzalez Malpu was allegedly:

• Forced to watch the simulated shooting of his mother
• Subjected to electric shocks

Pedro Hugo Arellano Carvajal was allegedly:

• Pushed out of a helicopter with ropes attached to his trousers
• Dragged through thorns
• Subjected to electric shocks
• Forced to play Russian roulette

Miguel Woodward was allegedly:

• Subjected to electric shocks
• Beaten with a hammer to break his arms
• Beaten and left to die

Other alleged acts of torture cited in the charges include:

• Burning with a flamethrower
• Forcing a victim to eat the flesh of dead prisoners
• Driving over a victim's legs with a machine
• Using a dog to sexually abuse women
• Employing a man with visible syphilitic sores to rape women