Chile is launching its first investigation into the death of socialist president Salvador Allende, whose body was found in the presidential palace during a 1973 coup.
Until now Mr Allende's death, during the US-backed coup that brought military dictator Augusto Pinochet to power on 11 September 1973, had officially been ruled a suicide.
'What has not been investigated, the courts will investigate,' said prosecutor Beatriz Pedrals, who has filed suit to investigate 726 cases of alleged human rights abuse.
'This will finally establish what happened,' she said, adding she hoped all those responsible would be prosecuted and treated equally.
The inquiry is part of the investigation of hundreds of human rights complaints against General Pinochet's 1973-1990 military dictatorship.
Mr Allende came to power in 1970 when he won a narrow victory in Chilean elections. But his ascent to power was not welcomed by all.
Conservatives in Chile and the US feared his attempts to pave 'a Chilean way toward Socialism' would usher in a pro-Soviet communist government.
Henry Kissinger, US secretary of state under then president Richard Nixon, made quite clear what US intentions were after Mr Allende's election.
'The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves... I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people,' Mr Kissinger said at the time.
Mr Allende, Chile's first socialist president, was found dead in the presidential palace as soldiers supporting the coup closed in and warplanes bombed the building. He was 65.
An official autopsy ruled that he had committed suicide, although the results have long been questioned by some politicians and human rights groups.
Gen Pinochet's 17-year rule became the longest lasting dictatorship in South America. He died in December 2006 of a heart attack aged 91.
