Top > World > 2006 > December > 2006-12-14

Pinochet Dies at 91

Former Chilean leader General Augusto Jose Ramon Pinochet Ugarte died Sunday in Santiago`s military hospital after suffering a major heart attack. Pinochet, who was 91-year-old, came to power through a military coup and during his reign tens of thousands of people were tortured, murdered and gone missing, was hospitalized a week ago and underwent an emergency bypass, but his condition remained critical until he finally passed away Sunday.

In s statement given by the hospital it was announced that Pinochet died due to a sudden deterioration in his condition. In the morning Pinochet`s friends and family arrived to the hospital and conducted a mass in his honor. The public opinion on Pinochet in Chile is split. Many Chileans feel he saved their country from the grip of Marxism, while others see him as a mass murderer, who should have been prosecuted for human right violations. About 3,000 people were killed for political reasons during the 17 years he was in power, tens of thousands were tortured or fled the country. Thousands are still missing up to this day.

In recent years, Pinochet`s health began to deteriorate, after suffering a stroke. He suffered of Dementia, Diabetes and Arthritis. Due to his medical condition several lawsuits against him were dropped, although a judge decided last year that he was fit for a trial. Pinochet was extradited from Spain to Chile several years back. Last month he celebrated his 91st birthday. During the celebrations he accepted responsibility for the actions that took place during his rule for the first time. A day later an investigating judge had him put under house-arrest and that he will be prosecuted for the murders of the bodyguards of the Chilean president that he ousted in a coup.