The Hindu : International / Globescan : Pinochet loses 'final round'

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Saturday, Aug 28, 2004

International

International - Globescan

Pinochet loses 'final round'

LOS ANGELES/Santiago: The former Chilean leader, Augusto Pinochet, on Thursday lost what could be the final round in his tortuous struggle to avoid prosecution for human rights abuses when the country's Supreme Court upheld the decision of a lower court that stripped him of immunity from prosecution. There can be no appeal against the ruling. ``The previous sentence...of the appeals court...is upheld,'' the court reporter, Juan Cristobal Mera, told journalists at Santiago's main court. Outside, demonstrators including the families of the disappeared gathered to celebrate. The Government indicated that the ruling could clear the way for an investigation, saying: ``Nobody is above the law.'' But a spokesman for the former ruler said: ``This does come as a bit of a surprise since the health of the ex-President has not changed at all.'' Several medical reports have found Mr. Pinochet to have a mild form of dementia. These reports, however, have been challenged. Lorena

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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