General Augusto Pinochet suffered a suspected stroke today. The former dictator is currently waiting for a judge to decide whether he is fit to stand trial for alleged human rights abuses.
General Pinochet, who faces charges of abuse during his 1973-1990 dictatorship, was under observation and will stay in hospital for tests.
The 85-year-old former Chilean army commander-in-chief has diabetes and is fitted with a pacemaker.
His doctors say he suffered at least two strokes while under house arrest in Britain fighting extradition to Spain.
The last time he went to the hospital was earlier this month, when he underwent three days of psychological, psychiatric and neurological tests to determine if he was mentally fit to stand trial.
Official results of the tests have not been published but one of General Pinochet's doctors, Mr Sergio Ferrer, who observed the examinations, said last week that his patient had some dementia, which included a loss of memory.
Reuters