A Chilean appeals court today upheld the indictment of General Augusto Pinochet in the disappearance of three dissidents in the early years of his 1973-90 dictatorship.
In all, Pinochet had been indicted in nine cases stemming from the 1975 offensive known as Operation Colombo, which resulted in the killing and disappearance of 119 dissidents. Pinochet's regime had claimed the dissidents were killed in clashes between rival opposition groups.
The 90-year-old retired general remains under house arrest at his mansion in a Santiago suburb. His lawyers are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing Pinochet's deteriorated health makes him unfit to stand trial.
Four previous attempts to try him have failed because of his health problems. He suffers from mild dementia, diabetes, arthritis and has a pacemaker.
Pinochet has also been indicted on tax evasion and corruption charges stemming from multimillion-dollar bank accounts he maintained abroad.
AP