Chile's Pinochet recovering from heart attack
Source: Reuters
(Updates with fresh quotes from doctor) By Rodrigo Martinez SANTIAGO, Chile, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, accused of torture, killings and kidnappings during his 1973-1990 rule, is recovering from a heart attack he suffered at the weekend, doctors said on Monday. "We are fairly optimistic," Dr. Juan Ignacio Vergara of Santiago's military hospital told reporters. "If he continues with this positive progress, the general is going to overcome this problem." "The risk of death is diminishing," he added. "But it still exists because of all the complications that might arise." Pinochet, 91, the best known of the strongmen who dominated South American politics in the 1970s and 1980s, was rushed to hospital on Sunday for an angioplasty to reopen his arteries following a heart attack. Since then, many Chileans have been awaiting news of a man who, almost 17 years after he relinquished power, still holds tremendous sway over the emotions of the nation. Some regard him as the man who saved them from Communism by ousting leftist President Salvador Allende in a 1973 coup, while others view him as a murderer who should be put on trial for human rights abuses. Around 3,000 people were killed in political violence during Pinochet's 17-year rule and some 28,000 were tortured. Many more fled into exile. When news reached Chileans on Sunday that Pinochet was ill, dozens of his supporters went to the hospital clutching flags, placards and portraits of him, and started a vigil. A handful remained there on Monday. Nearby, a gathering of around 50 leftists chanted anti-Pinochet slogans. "There will always be detractors, but I'm not interested in them," Lucia Pinochet, the eldest of Pinochet's three daughters, told reporters. "I'm grateful for the gestures of support, especially from those who have held a vigil here, praying. I think that's played a role in my father's improvement." ILLNESS THWARTS PROSECUTORS Efforts to prosecute Pinochet for human rights abuses and fraud have often been thwarted due to his poor health. His defense lawyers have successfully argued he is too ill to stand trial, although he still faces charges in at least five separate cases. Some of the retired general's critics view the frequent health problems as excuses and complain that whenever a case advances, he falls ill. The Chilean Communist Party issued a statement on Monday urging courts to speed up their work "given that ... the ex-dictator has confined himself (to hospital), as he does regularly each time he is investigated or charged." His family vehemently deny the suggestion his illness is faked, and doctors have confirmed Pinochet is diabetic and suffers frequent mini-strokes that have affected parts of his brain. Last week, Pinochet was placed under house arrest over the murder of two of Allende's bodyguards in 1973. In the latest twist in the case, a court ruled on Monday the retired general should be freed on bail. In recent years, Pinochet has lived in an exclusive suburb of Santiago. He marked his birthday last month by issuing a statement accepting "political responsibility" for acts committed during his rule, but said he acted with Chile's interests at heart. "Today, close to the end of my days, I want to make clear that I hold no rancor toward anybody, that I love my country above all else," he said. (Additional reporting by Antonio de la Jara, Erik Lopez, Monica Vargas and Pav Jordan)
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