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Pinochet Under House Arrest
Chile's former military ruler, Augusto Pinochet, has been placed under house arrest on murder and kidnapping charges at his rural retreat, BBC reports Feb.1.
The 85-year-old general, who ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, was officially informed of the charges against him, which stem from a 1973 military campaign against opponents of his rule.
The arrest warrant was delivered to General Pinochet at his Los Boldos residence in Bucalemu, 120 kilometres (75 miles) south-west of Santiago.
A Pinochet spokesman said the former military ruler refused to acknowledge the arrest and intended to appeal within the next five days.
News of the arrest was greeted with delight among human rights campaigners, but the commander-in-chief of the Chilean army, General Ricardo Izurieta expressed concern.
"I am deeply worried about General Pinochet's health and I have not the slightest doubt that the entire army is as well," he told reporters.
Gabriela Zuniga, a spokeswoman for the Families of the Detained/Disappeared protest group said: "This is a necessary step so that justice can begin."
The commander of the Chilean Navy, Admiral Jorge Arancibia, had earlier warned of potential unrest if an order for the general's arrest was carried out.
"He who sows the wind, shall reap the whirlwind," he told the newspaper La Segunda.
A group of General Pinochet's supporters have again gathered outside his house to protest at the attempt to put him on trial.
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