Response to Pinochet death
There have been disturbances in the Chilean capital, Santiago, following the death of the country's former military ruler, Augusto Pinochet. General Pinochet died in hospital on Sunday afternoon. His funeral will take place tomorrow, Tuesday.
From Santiago, Steve Kingstone reports:
Supporters and opponents of Augusto Pinochet were on the streets of Santiago long into the night. The former gathered first at the hospital where he died and later at the military academy, where a funeral service and cremation will take place on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in the city centre thousands of anti-Pinochet demonstrators celebrated news of his death with champagne and confetti but the party mood soured as a minority of the crowd lit fires and scuffled with the police, who responded with teargas and water cannon.
The Chilean government has issued an appeal for peace. A spokesman said Mr Pinochet would be honoured as a former head of the army but not as a former head of state. Nor will there be an official period of mourning. This country's president, Michelle Bachelet, who was herself jailed and later exiled during the Pinochet regime, will not attend the funeral. Instead the government will be represented by Chile's defence minister.
VOCABULARY
Supporters and opponents
simpatizantes y opositores
The former
Este caso, los primeros de la lista mencionada (es decir, si dice "simpatizantes y opositores", se refiere a los simpatizantes)
gathered
se reunieron
confetti
confeti
the party mood soured
el ambiente de fiesta se arruinó
a minority of the crowd
una minoría entre la multitud
scuffled
se enfrentaron a
a former
un antiguo, ex- (en este caso: ex mandatario)
an official period of mourning
un período de duelo oficial
exiled
exiliada
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