Britain will decide today whether the former Chilean dictator, Gen Augusto Pinochet, is free to return home or should be extradited on torture charges, the Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said yesterday. "I expect to make a decision in the case of Senator Pinochet at 8 a.m. tomorrow," Mr Straw said. Gen Pinochet (84) was arrested in London in October 1998 at the request of Spain. It wants to try him on torture charges dating from part of his 1973-1990 rule in Chile, during which thousands of people died or were tortured. Belgium, France and Switzerland have also asked for his extradition.
Mr Straw said on January 11th he was minded to send Gen Pinochet home for medical reasons after a team of British doctors said he was unfit for trial. All four countries requesting his extradition have disagreed with this assessment.