General Pinochet to step down early

Reports from Chile say the head of the Chilean army, General Pinochet, is to step down from his post in January - two months earlier than expected.

Local newspapers said the reason for the move was so the General could take up his next job - as a non-elected Senator for life - before the end of the current Parliament.

Correspondents say there've been many rumours that General Pinochet, who's led the army since 1973, would step down early but that these have been denied by the General himself.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service