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| Infamous Pinochet-era agent dies | Infamous Pinochet-era agent dies |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| One of the most notorious figures from the regime of former military ruler of Chile, General Augusto Pinochet, has died in prison, officials have said. | One of the most notorious figures from the regime of former military ruler of Chile, General Augusto Pinochet, has died in prison, officials have said. |
| Osvaldo Romo, who was serving 15 years in jail for killing three dissidents during Gen Pinochet's rule, died of heart and respiratory problems. | Osvaldo Romo, who was serving 15 years in jail for killing three dissidents during Gen Pinochet's rule, died of heart and respiratory problems. |
| Known as "El Guaton" ("The Fat One"), Romo was awaiting trial for a number of human rights abuses from 1973 to 1990. | |
| Romo fled to Brazil afterwards, but was eventually extradited back to Chile. | Romo fled to Brazil afterwards, but was eventually extradited back to Chile. |
| A former officer in the feared Dina secret police force, Romo was accused by his victims of being a sadistic torturer. | A former officer in the feared Dina secret police force, Romo was accused by his victims of being a sadistic torturer. |
| Boasts | Boasts |
| He worked at the notorious Villa Grimaldi detention centre in the capital, Santiago, where Chile's current president, Michelle Bachelet, was briefly held in the 1970s. | He worked at the notorious Villa Grimaldi detention centre in the capital, Santiago, where Chile's current president, Michelle Bachelet, was briefly held in the 1970s. |
| Romo once boasted about his actions in a TV interview he gave in prison. | Romo once boasted about his actions in a TV interview he gave in prison. |
| He said he had told the Dina commander, Gen Manuel Contreras, that it was a mistake not to kill some jailed dissidents. | He said he had told the Dina commander, Gen Manuel Contreras, that it was a mistake not to kill some jailed dissidents. |
| He said that he told Gen Contreras: "Let's not leave any of these kids alive, my general." | He said that he told Gen Contreras: "Let's not leave any of these kids alive, my general." |
| Romo also infiltrated leftist groups prior to the 1973 military coup in which Gen Pinochet overthrew Marxist President Salvador Allende. | Romo also infiltrated leftist groups prior to the 1973 military coup in which Gen Pinochet overthrew Marxist President Salvador Allende. |
| More than 3,000 people were killed or "disappeared" during Gen Pinochet's 17-year rule. | More than 3,000 people were killed or "disappeared" during Gen Pinochet's 17-year rule. |