leigh ordered the presidential palace bombed, but was told the air force's hawker hunter jet aircraft would take forty minutes to arrive. pinochet ordered an armoured and infantry force under general sergio arellano to advance upon the "la moneda" presidential palace. when the troops moved forward, they were forced to retreat after coming under fire from gap snipers perched on rooftops. general arellano called for helicopter gunship support from the commander of the chilean army puma helicopter squadron and the troops were able to advance again. chilean air force aircraft soon arrived to provide close air support for the assault (by bombing the palace), but the defenders did not surrender until nearly 2:30 pm. first reports said the 65-year-old president had died fighting troops, but later police sources reported he had committed suicide.