Pinochet's trial: Relatives of victims cheered

A Chilean court has suspended the order to place former Chilean dictator, &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/14654_Pinochet.html' target=_blank>Augusto Pinochet under house arrest for crimes he committed during "Operation Condor", aiming to remove his opponents in Latin America, between 1970 and 1980 at the request of his defense lawyers.

Chilean Judge Juan Guzman said he has decided to put the 86-year-old Pinochet on trial. Pinochet has, among other things, been accused of holding nine people by force and killing a man during Operation Condor, reports Zaman Online.

According to The Age, as Judge Guzman announced the decision at the main courts in Santiago, relatives of victims cheered and sang for joy.

Later they marched in Santiago's main street to celebrate. Among the crowd was Miriam Tamayo Martinez, whose brother was one of the 10 victims named in the 52-page resolution.

"I am much more content knowing that General Pinochet has been charged over the death of my brother," she said. "We have been waiting for so long for the justice system in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/14591_apec.html ' target=_blank>Chile to do something."

Her brother, Manuel Tamayo, was detained on April 3, 1976, with two Chilean friends in the Argentine city of Mendoza.

They were arrested by Argentinian and Chilean officials and taken back to Santiago for questioning and torture. Like eight others named in the lawsuit, Mr Tamayo's body has never been recovered.