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| Clashes follow death of Pinochet | Clashes follow death of Pinochet |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thousands of Chileans have taken to the streets following the death of the country's former military ruler, Augusto Pinochet, at the age of 91. | Thousands of Chileans have taken to the streets following the death of the country's former military ruler, Augusto Pinochet, at the age of 91. |
| Jubilant opponents danced in the centre of Santiago, Chile's capital, before clashes broke out. Police used water cannon and tear gas to control crowds. | Jubilant opponents danced in the centre of Santiago, Chile's capital, before clashes broke out. Police used water cannon and tear gas to control crowds. |
| Supporters mourned Gen Pinochet outside the military hospital where he died. | Supporters mourned Gen Pinochet outside the military hospital where he died. |
| The general took power in a 1973 coup, and more than 3,000 people were killed or "disappeared" in his 17-year rule. | The general took power in a 1973 coup, and more than 3,000 people were killed or "disappeared" in his 17-year rule. |
| He was accused of dozens of human rights abuses as well as fraud but poor health meant he never faced trial. | He was accused of dozens of human rights abuses as well as fraud but poor health meant he never faced trial. |
| What saddens me is that this criminal has died without having been sentenced Hugo Gutierrez Human rights lawyer Reactions to death | What saddens me is that this criminal has died without having been sentenced Hugo Gutierrez Human rights lawyer Reactions to death |
| Although Gen Pinochet's health had been poor for several years, doctors in Santiago had felt he was recovering after suffering a heart attack a week ago. | Although Gen Pinochet's health had been poor for several years, doctors in Santiago had felt he was recovering after suffering a heart attack a week ago. |
| No state funeral or national mourning has been authorised. He will be buried with military honours on Tuesday. | No state funeral or national mourning has been authorised. He will be buried with military honours on Tuesday. |
| "The government has authorised flags to fly at half-mast at army facilities," government spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber said. | "The government has authorised flags to fly at half-mast at army facilities," government spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber said. |
| Divisions | Divisions |
| Sworn opponents and loyal supporters of the Gen Pinochet both took to the streets in numbers after hearing news of his death. | Sworn opponents and loyal supporters of the Gen Pinochet both took to the streets in numbers after hearing news of his death. |
| Gen Pinochet celebrated his 91st birthday last month Gen Pinochet's life | Gen Pinochet celebrated his 91st birthday last month Gen Pinochet's life |
| There was a carnival atmosphere in the centre of Santiago, reports said, as cheering opponents waved flags and sang celebratory songs. | There was a carnival atmosphere in the centre of Santiago, reports said, as cheering opponents waved flags and sang celebratory songs. |
| But clashes broke out when a group of about 1,000 people tried to head towards the city's presidential palace. | But clashes broke out when a group of about 1,000 people tried to head towards the city's presidential palace. |
| Police fired water cannon and tear gas, and a string of fires could be seen along one of Santiago's main avenues. | Police fired water cannon and tear gas, and a string of fires could be seen along one of Santiago's main avenues. |
| At the city's military hospital, thousands more gathered to mourn the man they saw as having saved Chile from Marxism. | At the city's military hospital, thousands more gathered to mourn the man they saw as having saved Chile from Marxism. |
| "It is very sad, because it is as if we were left orphans," one mourner, Maria Santibanez, told the AFP news agency. | "It is very sad, because it is as if we were left orphans," one mourner, Maria Santibanez, told the AFP news agency. |
| Many of the crowd clutched pictures of Gen Pinochet, and planned to continue their vigil at the military academy where his body is to be kept until Tuesday's funeral. | Many of the crowd clutched pictures of Gen Pinochet, and planned to continue their vigil at the military academy where his body is to be kept until Tuesday's funeral. |
| 'Loved by many' | 'Loved by many' |
| Earlier, Santiago's military hospital said Gen Pinochet passed away at 1415 local time (1715GMT) following "grave and unexpected setbacks". | Earlier, Santiago's military hospital said Gen Pinochet passed away at 1415 local time (1715GMT) following "grave and unexpected setbacks". |
| "He died surrounded by his family," Dr Vergara said. | "He died surrounded by his family," Dr Vergara said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I hope my country can find peace after his death. Reconciliation is the key Veronica, Santiago, Chile Send us your comments After last week's acute heart attack, the general underwent a procedure to unblock an artery, and received the last rites from a Catholic priest. | HAVE YOUR SAY I hope my country can find peace after his death. Reconciliation is the key Veronica, Santiago, Chile Send us your comments After last week's acute heart attack, the general underwent a procedure to unblock an artery, and received the last rites from a Catholic priest. |
| But in the days afterwards his condition had been thought to be improving. | But in the days afterwards his condition had been thought to be improving. |
| Opponents have expressed anger that Gen Pinochet died without justice being done over the charges brought against him. | Opponents have expressed anger that Gen Pinochet died without justice being done over the charges brought against him. |
| Despite his human rights record, the general had staunch supporters | Despite his human rights record, the general had staunch supporters |
| "What saddens me is that this criminal has died without having been sentenced and I believe the responsibility the state bears in this has to be considered", human rights lawyer Hugo Gutierrez told the Chilean newspaper La Tercera Online. | "What saddens me is that this criminal has died without having been sentenced and I believe the responsibility the state bears in this has to be considered", human rights lawyer Hugo Gutierrez told the Chilean newspaper La Tercera Online. |
| Despite his human rights record, many Chileans loved him and said he saved the country from Marxism. | Despite his human rights record, many Chileans loved him and said he saved the country from Marxism. |
| But many loyal supporters abandoned him after it became clear in 2004 that he had stolen about $27m in secret offshore bank accounts, the BBC's Daniel Schweimler says. | But many loyal supporters abandoned him after it became clear in 2004 that he had stolen about $27m in secret offshore bank accounts, the BBC's Daniel Schweimler says. |
| Those accounts were under investigation at the time of his death. | Those accounts were under investigation at the time of his death. |
| There were also allegations that Gen Pinochet made money from cocaine smuggling - charges which the family denied. | |
| 'Political responsibility' | 'Political responsibility' |
| In September 1973, Gen Pinochet led the armed forces in a dramatic coup against the democratically elected Marxist government of Salvador Allende. | In September 1973, Gen Pinochet led the armed forces in a dramatic coup against the democratically elected Marxist government of Salvador Allende. |
| Close to the end of my days, I want to make clear that I hold no rancour towards anybody, that I love my country above all else Recent Pinochet statement | Close to the end of my days, I want to make clear that I hold no rancour towards anybody, that I love my country above all else Recent Pinochet statement |
| The violence of the uprising and the oppression that followed shook the world. He went on to become one of Latin America's best-known military rulers of the 1970s and 80s. | The violence of the uprising and the oppression that followed shook the world. He went on to become one of Latin America's best-known military rulers of the 1970s and 80s. |
| Earlier in November, Gen Pinochet was placed under house arrest over the abduction of two people in 1973. | Earlier in November, Gen Pinochet was placed under house arrest over the abduction of two people in 1973. |
| The charges - the latest in a series - related to the Caravan of Death, a military operation to remove opponents of his rule. | The charges - the latest in a series - related to the Caravan of Death, a military operation to remove opponents of his rule. |
| In a statement read by his wife on his 91st birthday, Gen Pinochet said he accepted "political responsibility" for acts committed during his rule. | In a statement read by his wife on his 91st birthday, Gen Pinochet said he accepted "political responsibility" for acts committed during his rule. |
| "Today, close to the end of my days, I want to make clear that I hold no rancour towards anybody, that I love my country above all else," his statement said. | "Today, close to the end of my days, I want to make clear that I hold no rancour towards anybody, that I love my country above all else," his statement said. |