Saturday, November 28, 1998 Published at 13:42 GMT
Chile promises legal action on Pinochet
Pinochet's opponents in Chile recall those who disappeared under his rule
Chile's Foreign Minister, Jose Miguel Insulza, has said that legal proceedings against the former military ruler General Augusto Pinochet will be pursued in his home country.
UK Home Secretary Jack Straw is to decide whether the extradition may proceed, following a ruling by the UK's Law Lords that the general did not qualify for immunity from arrest despite being a former head of state.
"I fully expect they will result in justice," Mr Insulza said.
But he added: " I cannot say that a man who is 83 years old is going to jail".
But BBC World Affairs Correspondent David Loyn says the new approach by Chile lacks credibility, since General Pinochet has previously not been treated as a criminal in Chile.
As a senator, his immunity from prosecution in Chile would have to be removed before the cases could be heard, and until his arrest in London he acted as an unofficial ambassador for his country abroad, particularly in the field of arms sales.
UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said that he told Mr Insulza on Friday that "neither the original arrest nor subsequent steps had been politically motivated".
Both ministers expressed a shared commitment to maintain good relations between London and Santiago. Mr Cook added that he emphasised the UK's strong support for Chilean democracy.
After meeting Mr Cook on Friday , Mr Insulza delivered a letter of protest to 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister, but did not get to meet Tony Blair.
Chilean President Eduardo Frei has called for calm, and called on the country to unite behind his efforts to secure General Pinochet's release.
Chilean police have stepped up security outside a number of public buildings in the capital, Santiago, and the British embassy has closed its consulate in the coastal city of Valparaiso.
The UK also cancelled the visit of a warship to a Chilean naval fair next week.
The Chilean Interior Ministry has urged demonstrators not to break the law and criticised those who have burnt Spanish and British flags during protests.
General Pinochet faces a hearing before Bow Street magistrates in London on December 11 when representatives for the Home Secretary will reveal if he has granted an "Authority to Proceed".
The legal process could take months or even years.
General Pinochet's lawyers are reportedly preparing to argue that he should not be extradited because he is mentally unfit to stand trial.