Chilean Defence Minister resigns in Pinochet row

The Chilean Defence Minister, Edmundo Perez Yoma -- a close ally of the former military president, General Augusto Pinochet -- has resigned unexpectedly.

His departure comes at a time of heightened tension between the armed forces and the civilian authorities over the future of the General, who's due to retire soon as head of the army.

Members of the centre-left coalition government have said the General should not escape judgement for human rights abuses carried out during the military regime he headed between 1973 and 1990.

The BBC correspondent in Chile says Mr Perez Yoma is understood to have stepped down in order to distance himself from the moves against General Pinochet.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service