A court in London has been told that the former Chilean leader General Augusto Pinochet has been charged with some of the most serious crimes ever to come before a British court. Prosecutors on behalf of the Spanish Government have detailed 35 separate allegations of torture against the former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, at the opening of the extradition proceedings against him in London. The court will consider whether or not to send General Pinochet to Spain to face trial for the alleged human rights abuses during his 17 years in power. From early morning, both pro and anti-Pinochet demonstrators gathered at the court.
General Pinochet, who is 83, and reported to be in poor health, was arrested in London last October, while recovering from back surgery at a London clinic. Outside Bow Street Magistrates Court this morning, police kept rival groups of demonstrators apart. The hearing is expected to last five days but it could be two weeks before a final judgement on whether or not Pinochet should be extradited is delivered.
