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| Chile seeks 'Dirty War' arrests | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Chilean judge has issued arrest warrants for 129 people for allegedly helping to purge critics of former ruler General Augusto Pinochet. | A Chilean judge has issued arrest warrants for 129 people for allegedly helping to purge critics of former ruler General Augusto Pinochet. |
| The suspects - the largest group so far to face arrest warrants - all worked for the secret police agency, Dina. | The suspects - the largest group so far to face arrest warrants - all worked for the secret police agency, Dina. |
| They are accused of taking part in killings and disappearances of dozens of leftists and opposition activists. | They are accused of taking part in killings and disappearances of dozens of leftists and opposition activists. |
| Since Gen Pinochet left power in 1990, arrests of his agents have been frequent - often dividing opinion. | Since Gen Pinochet left power in 1990, arrests of his agents have been frequent - often dividing opinion. |
| The warrants also name dozens of former military and security officials who had never faced charges before. | The warrants also name dozens of former military and security officials who had never faced charges before. |
| Disappeared | Disappeared |
| Gen Pinochet died in 2006 without facing trial for human rights abuses | Gen Pinochet died in 2006 without facing trial for human rights abuses |
| Anti-Pinochet activists have broadly supported the move to punish those responsible for torture and murder. | |
| But many Chileans have questioned the wisdom of continuing to chase down suspects, saying many of those now being arrested were little more than foot-soldiers. | But many Chileans have questioned the wisdom of continuing to chase down suspects, saying many of those now being arrested were little more than foot-soldiers. |
| Thousands of activists were killed or disappeared during the 1973-1990 rule of Gen Pinochet. | Thousands of activists were killed or disappeared during the 1973-1990 rule of Gen Pinochet. |
| Judge Victor Montiglio's latest warrants relate to operations when Dina agents purged opponents of the general. | Judge Victor Montiglio's latest warrants relate to operations when Dina agents purged opponents of the general. |
| The first is Operation Condor - a long-running campaign launched in the mid-1970s to hunt down and kill left-wingers. | The first is Operation Condor - a long-running campaign launched in the mid-1970s to hunt down and kill left-wingers. |
| Condor was a continent-wide operation, also backed by the rulers of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. | Condor was a continent-wide operation, also backed by the rulers of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
| Another incident cited in the court papers is Operation Colombo, referring to the 1975 killing of 119 Chilean activists. | Another incident cited in the court papers is Operation Colombo, referring to the 1975 killing of 119 Chilean activists. |
| And the judge also cited the case of 10 Communists who disappeared in 1976. | And the judge also cited the case of 10 Communists who disappeared in 1976. |
| The arrests are expected to begin on Wednesday. | The arrests are expected to begin on Wednesday. |