Pinochet Ordered To Spain

Former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet should be extradited to Spain to stand trial on charges he ordered the torture of political opponents during his rule, a London magistrate ruled Friday, setting off wild celebrations by his opponents.

The 83-year-old general is accused by Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon of orchestrating a campaign of terror against opponents during his 17-year dictatorship.

While the ruling is a blow to Pinochet, who has been in custody in Britain for almost a year, he will not immediately be sent to Spain to face trial. Pinochet was arrested while in London recuperating from back surgery.

His lawyers were expected to appeal to the High Court, claiming that too much time has elapsed since the alleged crimes, that sending him to Spain would be "unjust and oppressive," or that the extradition request was made in bad faith.

They have 15 days in which to file an appeal, and Pinochet cannot be extradited while an appeal is pending.

"Spain has not produced a single piece of evidence which shows that I am guilty," Pinochet said in a statement read after the ruling by his chief lawyer, Clive Nicholls.

Garzon's arrest warrant lists one count of conspiracy to torture and 34 specific incidents of torture against Chileans that allegedly occurred during Pinochet's final two years in power.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ronald Bartle decided that the allegations constituted extraditable crimes and that, even though no Spanish victims were involved, Spain has jurisdiction to try the general.

If Pinochet loses an appeal to the High Court, Home Secretary Jack Straw — who initially ruled the extradition case could go forward in the courts - would have to give Pinochet's extradition final approval.

The legal battle could carry on for months, with Pinochet remaining under house arrest in a rented mansion southwest of London.

Pinochet was not in court for Bartle's ruling, having been excused after his lawyers argued Wednesday that he was too ill to attend. Pinochet's doctor said the general had suffered two small strokes last month, and his supporters say he is suffering from depression and his health is steadily deteriorating.

A Chilean government report acknowledged that 3,197 people died or disappeared after Pinochet toppled elected Marxist President Salvador Allende in a bloody 1973 coup. Pinochet relinquished power in 1990, and became a senator for life.

A senator-for-life, he is largely protected from prosecution in Chile by a wide-ranging amnesty law he helped pass before stepping down.