Chilean president angered by military meeting

The president of Chile, Ricardo Lagos, has rebuked military commanders, after they held a meeting interpreted as a gesture of defiance over the trial of Augusto Pinochet.

The luncheon, which was held in public view at a restaurant in Santiago, was attended by the chiefs of the army, navy, air force and police.

Mr Lagos said he had asked his defence minister Mario Fernandez to express his displeasure.

Although they have been silent on the question of lifting General Pinochet's immunity from prosecution, the armed forces chiefs have consistently spoken in his defence. The General is currently facing a-hundred lawsuits on charges of human rights abuses committed during his seventeen year rule.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service