|
Pinochet death sparks riots in Chile
1.27, Mon Dec 11 2006
Riots have erupted in the Chilean capital Santiago after the death of former dictator Augusto Pinochet. (Pic: Reuters) Thousands took the to streets after the 91-year-old's death was announced. Some people threw rocks at cars and set up fire barricades on the main avenue of Santiago. Police used water-cannon to try to drive the demonstrators off the streets of the capital. Several journalists were attacked during the protest. A number of people were arrested during the clashes but there were no immediate reports of anyone being injured. Gen Pinochet ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990 and more than 3,000 people died in political violence under his regime. Baroness Thatcher, a firm and loyal supporter, was said to be "greatly saddened" by the death. Gen Pinochet spent his old age fighting human rights, fraud and corruption charges. He grabbed power in a coup and went on to become the best known of the South American dictators of the 1970s and 1980s. He was accused of dozens of human rights violations but a lengthy effort to bring him to trial in Chile failed. Despite Pinochet's human rights record, many Chileans loved him and said he saved Chile from Marxism. Dec 10: Ex dictator Pinochet diesDec 9: Pinochet 'recovering well' after heart attack |
|
|||||||||||||||||||