Spain hails Pinochet decision

Relatives of the missing celebrate after the court's decision

Human rights lawyers in Spain have welcomed the decision by a Chilean court to strip General Augusto Pinochet of his immunity from prosecution.

The ruling by an appeals court in the Chilean capital Santiago is the first step towards a possible trial of Chile's former military ruler who is accused of human rights abuses.

Joan Garces, a lawyer for Spanish nationals allegedly tortured during General Pinochet's rule said that although it would be difficult to bring the general to trial in Chile, the court's decision showed the effectiveness of the victims' battle for justice.

General Pinochet returned to Chile in March after more than 16 months under housed arrest in London.

Pinochet supporters blame government pressure

The British Government ruled that he was too ill to be extradited to Spain where a judge wanted him tried on charges of human rights abuses.

The Spanish Government, which during the long judicial battle always opposed attempts top put Gen Pinochet on trial in Madrid, saluted the Chilean court decision.

Too ill

Lawyers for the 84-year-old former ruler say they will appeal against the decision to the Chilean Supreme Court.

His original immunity stemmed from his role as a senator-for-life - a position he created for himself when he relinquished power in 1990.

General Pinochet is also accused of ordering the kidnap and illegal execution of 19 people in the case known as the Caravan of Death.

There are another 105 complaints filed against him in what some observers have described as the Pandora's Box of the Chilean transition to democracy.

But the BBC correspondent in Santiago says that according to opinion polls, many Chileans still think the general will not face trial. They think he will be let off on grounds of poor health.

History of case

Oct 1998: Arrested in Britain

Oct 1998: Released over immunity

Nov 1998: Immunity rejected

Dec 1998: British government rejects release

Dec 1998: Immunity decision set aside over possible bias

March 1999: Immunity again rejected

Sept 1999: Extradition hearing begins

Oct 1999: Adjourned over health

March 2000: Government decides against extradition

March 2000: Return to Chile

Chilean President Ricardo Lagos earlier urged the country to remain calm when the decision to strip him of immunity was made public.

Asked by a German newspaper if putting General Pinochet on trial would endanger Chile's political stability, Mr Lagos said it would not.

"We are already a democracy," he said.

Protesters in Chile - relatives of the disappeared, left-wing politicians and human rights activists - have continued to question the British Government's assessment that the general was not well enough to stand trial.

They argued that from his behaviour back in Chile, he was certainly fit to stand trial in his own country.