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Wednesday, 6 December, 2000, 13:18 GMT
BBC News Online's guide through the key landmarks in General Pinochet's arrest in the UK, extradition battle, and return to Chile, with links to the main news stories.
The Chilean army plans to convene the National Security Council - which gives them a political say during moments of national crisis - to discuss a judge's order for the arrest of former military leader General Pinochet.
The arrest of the general is put on hold as an appeals court considers whether the detention order against General Pinochet is legal.
A judge in Chile formally charges General Pinochet with kidnapping during his 1973-1990 dictatorship.
The general is accused of masterminding the so-called "Caravan of Death" in which more than 70 political prisoners disappeared shortly after he came to power in a military coup.
Court orders that General Pinochet should undergo psychological and neurological tests before appearing in court.
Chile's President Ricardo Lagos urges the country to respect the decision of the Supreme Court to end General Pinochet's immunity from prosecution.
Supreme Court strips General Pinochet of his immunity from prosecution.
Chile's Supreme Court begins its deliberations on whether Pinochet should stand trial for alleged human rights abuses.
Human rights lawyers urge Chile's Supreme Court to strip Augusto Pinochet of his immunity from prosecution.
Lawyers for General Pinochet argue that he was not legally responsible for the actions of an army squad after the coup that
brought him to power.
April - June 2000
Human rights activists say the release of US papers on the coup in Chile offer a new lead into the killing of American
journalist Charles Horman.
A former army officer in Chile admits that he saw prisoners taken off for execution at a stadium during General Pinochet's
Chilean Parliament vote unanimously in favour of a bill granting anonymity in return for information about the people who disappeared during the military rule of General Augusto Pinochet. (21 June)
Chile and Spain hold talks aimed at restoring ties damaged by the arrest of Augusto Pinochet.
Pinochet lawyers appeal against a court ruling that strips the former military ruler of his immunity from prosecution.
A Chilean court strips Pinochet of immunity from prosecution as a senator-for-life - a
position he created for himself when he stood down in 1990. (5 June)
Lawyers who want Augusto Pinochet to be prosecuted put the case against him in court.
January - March 2000
The Chilean Congress approves a measure designed to encourage Augusto Pinochet to leave active politics.
Socialist Ricardo Lagos, who won January's election, succeeds Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei and becomes the third
democratically-elected president since General Pinochet stepped down in 1990.
Pinochet is awarded a symbolic Oscar by protesters who say he feigned sickness to avoid trial.
State prosecutors join human rights lawyers in bringing legal action against the former Chilean military leader.
General Pinochet is awarded legal costs of up to $800,000, to be paid for by the UK taxpayer.
A Chilean judge begins moves to strip the country's former military leader, General Pinochet, of his parliamentary immunity.
Chile's Foreign Minister, Juan Gabriel Valdes: "General Augusto Pinochet must either be prepared to face trial in Chile or
else be declared insane."
Chile's military leaders welcome Augusto Pinochet in Santiago, a day after he was freed from 17-month house arrest in the UK.
UK Home Secretary Jack Straw decides General Pinochet will not be extradited on torture charges and is free to leave Britain.
France, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain lodge last-minute challenges to the medical report which declares the general unfit to
Spanish newspapers report what they say are details from the confidential medical report on Pinochet.
Opponents of Pinochet gain ground in their legal battle to ensure he stands trial.
Belgium announces is to go to the International Court of Justice to challenge Mr Straw's decision on General Pinochet.
The home secretary faces mounting criticism for keeping secret Pinochet's medical reports.
Following results of the medical tests, Home Secretary Jack Straw says he is "minded" to release General Pinochet.
A team of medical experts carry out tests on the general at a hospital in north London.
October - December 1999
The Home Office asks General Pinochet to undergo medical tests after his third stroke raises concerns he is unfit for
A UK court rules that General Pinochet can be extradited to Spain to stand trial for torture and human rights charges.
General Pinochet is excused from appearing at a London hearing in his fight against extradition after a court hears he has
recently suffered two minor strokes.
April - September 1999
Chile says it will bring Spain before the United Nations' top court to contest their request for the extradition of Augusto
Pinochet from the UK.
A judge in Chile orders the intelligence service chief during the rule of General Pinochet to stand trial for murder.
Augusto Pinochet says he regards himself as a political prisoner in Britain and strongly denies any direct role in human
UK Home Secretary Jack Straw rules that Augusto Pinochet cannot go free, and allows Spain permission to go ahead
with an extradition request.
January - March 1999
UK Home Secretary Jack Straw is considering the latest legal complexities entangling Spanish attempts to extradite General
Pinochet from Britain to face torture charges.
Opponents and supporters of General Pinochet cautiously welcome the Law Lords' ruling.
General Pinochet loses his appeal for immunity from prosecution in a historic second ruling by the UK's highest court, but the Law Lords reduce the number of charges against him, and ask Home Secretary Jack Straw to reconsider the case.
General Pinochet waits to learn if the UK's highest court is to grant him immunity from prosecution.
Lawyers for General Pinochet make an unprecedented second appearance before the UK's highest court in a renewed attempt to
block his extradition to Spain.
General Pinochet reportedly tells his family he is resigned to dying in the UK if necessary.
October 1998 - December 1998
The Chilean Government welcomes the new ruling.
The UK Law Lords rule that General Pinochet can have a fresh hearing into whether he is immune from prosecution, setting
aside an earlier Law Lords ruling.
Lawyers acting for General Pinochet announce plans to challenge the UK home secretary's decision authorising the extradition
A letter is released from General Pinochet to the Chilean people which he describes as his "political testament".
The Chilean Government announces a series of measures taken following the UK's decision not to send General Pinochet back to
General Pinochet makes a brief appearance in court, during which he refuses to recognise the right to be tried by any court
UK Home Secretary Jack Straw rejects appeals by General Augusto Pinochet's lawyers and allows the extradition case to go
The UK's highest court, the Law Lords, rules that General Pinochet can face an attempt to extradite him to Spain, dismissing
an earlier ruling by the High Court that as a former head of state he is immune from prosecution.
In his first public statement since his arrest, General Pinochet vows to fight extradition attempts "with all my spirit".
General Pinochet is bailed at London's High Court while the House of Lords decides if he has immunity from prosecution.
General Pinochet succeeds in a legal challenge against his arrest and detention in the UK at the High Court in London,
arguing that his arrest was unlawful.
General Augusto Pinochet is arrested in London on a warrant from Spain requesting his extradition on murder charges.
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