Thousands of people marched on January 23 along Santiago downtown streets to protest against the imminent return of former military ruler Augusto Pinochet.

The demonstrators demanded Britain to revert its decision and to extradite Pinochet to Spain, where a judge will try him for crimes against humanity committed during the 1973-1990 military regime in Chile.

Viviana Diaz, president of the association of relatives of Detained-Disappeared, asked British Home Secretary Jack Straw "tothink of the thousands of relatives of the victims of the military dictatorship and not grant Pinochet a reprieve for humanity reasons.

Straw said on January 11 that he denied the extradition of Pinochet, who would not resists a trial because of his deteriorated health, which makes possible the impending return of the former military ruler and lifetime senator to Chile.

Pinochet has been detained in London since October 16, 1998, atthe request of Spanish judge Baltasar Garzn.

Diaz said before the demonstrators that Pinochet, 84 years old, "is not as sick as they say."