Ricardo Lagos, First leftist leader of Chile since Salvador Allende
In Chile, supporters of the country's newly-elected president, Ricardo Lagos are calling for the former dictator, General Augusto Pinochet, to be put on trial for crimes allegedly committed during his dictatorship in the 1970's. Meanwhile, the European Court of Human Rights has rejected a request to prevent the release of Pinochet, lodged by Spanish victims of his regime.
The moderate socialist, Ricardo Lagos, who is 61, was elected President by a slim majority. He is the first leftist leader of the country since Salvador Allende was ousted by General Augusto Pinochet in a bloody coup in 1973. Mr Lagos, stood up to General Pinochet as Chile struggled to return to democracy, while his right-wing rival, Joaquin Lavin, is a former adviser to the Pinochet dictatorship.
