Chronology of the main events since Gen Pincohet’s arrest in Britain at the request of a Spanish judge:
1998
Oct. 16 -British police arrest Pinochet in London hospital where he is recovering from back surgery, on extradition warrant from Spain for alleged torture and murder, including that of Spanish citizens, during his 1973-1990 rule.
Oct. 28 -London High Court rules Pinochet is immune from arrest because he was head of state at time of alleged crimes, but says he must stay in custody pending appeal.
Nov. 3 -Britain's highest court, the Law Lords, hears appeal against ruling that Pinochet is immune from arrest.
Nov. 25 -Law Lords rule 3-2 Pinochet's arrest was legal.
Dec. 1 -Pinochet is placed under house arrest, moved to secluded home outside London with 24-hour police guard.
Dec. 9 -British Home Secretary Jack Straw rules extradition hearings against Pinochet can proceed.
Dec. 10 -Pinochet's lawyers ask Law Lords to set aside their ruling, saying Lord Hoffmann, who cast deciding vote, was biased as a director of Amnesty International Charity Ltd.
Dec. 11 -Pinochet appears in London court and is remanded on bail. Says he does not recognize any court outside Chile.
Dec 17 -Law Lords set aside their ruling on grounds it was tainted by the possible bias of one of its judges.
1999
March 24 -Law Lords again rule that Pinochet is not immune to arrest, opening way for hearing on his extradition to Spain. But in a partial victory for the former dictator, they say he is not answerable for charges of human rights abuses before 1988, when Britain incorporated the U.N. convention on torture into law.
Sept. 21 -Britain reiterates it will not consider freeing Pinochet on humanitarian grounds ahead of legal proceedings.
Oct. 8 -British court rules Pinochet can be extradited to Spain. His lawyers must submit appeal within 15 days.
Oct. 14 -Chile formally asks Britain to release Pinochet on humanitarian grounds.
Nov. 5 -Britain offers Pinochet a medical checkup to see if he is fit to be extradited, after the general is reported to have suffered a third minor stroke.
2000
Jan. 11 -Britain says medical tests show Pinochet is physically unfit to stand trial.
March 2 -Britain rules that Pinochet should not be extradited.
March 3 -Pinochet returns to Chile.
June 5 -An appeals court revokes Pinochet's immunity so he can be prosecuted in Chile's Caravan of Death case, which involves the killings of 75 suspected leftists.
Sept. 4 -Pinochet asks Chileans to look toward the future and leave divisions of the past behind.
Oct. 27 -An Argentine court asks the Chilean Supreme Court for Pinochet's arrest and extradition so he can be questioned regarding the 1974 murder of exiled Chilean General Carlos Prats and his wife in Buenos Aires.
Nov. 2 -A Chilean court asks that Pinochet be submitted to mental and neurological exams before facing charges.
Nov. 24 -At an event celebrating his 85th birthday, Pinochet assumes responsibility for the political violence in Chile during the previous 30 years.
Dec. 1 -A Chilean judge orders Pinochet's arrest and trial on charges of homicide and kidnapping in the Caravan of Death case.
Dec. 20 -The Supreme Court upholds the appeals court ruling, tells judge to first interrogate and ask for psychological exams on Pinochet before ordering any arrest and any charges.
2001
Jan. 10-12 -Pinochet undergoes psychological testing in Santiago's military hospital.
Jan. 16 -Mental report leaked to media shows that Pinochet suffers from slight to moderate dementia, resulting in partial memory loss.
Jan. 23 -Judge Juan Guzman interrogates Pinochet at his Santiago home.
Jan. 29 -Guzman reorders the arrest of Pinochet on charges of human rights abuses during his regime.
Jan. 31 -Pinochet is placed under house arrest.
March 8 -An appeals court reduces the charges against Pinochet from allegedly planning killings and kidnappings to covering up the crimes, making him eligible for bail.
March 14 -An appeals court releases Pinochet on bail.
May 31 -Chilean courts reject the Argentine request to extradite Pinochet in connection with the 1974 Prats murder.
June 9 -The Appeals Court orders the case against Pinochet suspended on the grounds he is mentally unfit to be prosecuted.