Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet suffered a heart attack today and was in a serious but stable condition in a military hospital in the capital Santiago.
Mr Pinochet, who stands accused of human rights abuses, fraud and corruption from his iron-fisted rule from 1973 to 1990, fell ill at about 2 a.m. (Irish time).
He had a by-pass operation this morning which his doctor said was successful.
Dr Juan Ignacio Vergara told reporters the former president was breathing without assistance.
Mr Pinochet turned 91 on November 25th while under house arrest and has been frail for some time.
"The diagnosis at the time of arrival was cardiac arrest ... and a pulmonary edema," the hospital said in an earlier statement.
Mr Pinochet has spent the past few years living in Santiago fighting allegations of human rights abuses and fraud relating to his 17 years in office.
Under his regime more than 3,000 people died in political violence, many at the hands of secret police. Despite concerted efforts, no one has ever brought the former dictator to trial.
His defence lawyers have always successfully argued that he is too ill to face charges.
Mr Pinochet marked his birthday last week by issuing a statement in which he accepted "political responsibility" for acts committed during his rule. However, he said his only motive was to make Chile "a great place and prevent its disintegration".
"Today, close to the end of my days, I want to make clear that I hold no rancour toward anybody, that I love my country above all else," he said in the statement.
Despite being responsible for chronic human rights abuses, he is regarded fondly by many who believe he saved the country from Marxism.
Many of them abandoned him, however, after it came out in 2004 that he had stashed some $27 million in secret off-shore bank accounts during his time in power.
Pinochet has been arrested several times for crimes allegedly committed during his rule. His latest arrest came just six days ago, in connection with the killing of two bodyguards shortly after the 1973 coup that brought him to power.