Britain's House of Lords said yesterday it would make its ruling on the extradition of the former Chilean dictator, Gen Augusto Pinochet, next Wednesday, his 83rd birthday.
If the Law Lords, the highest court in the land, upholds an earlier ruling by the High Court, then Gen Pinochet will be free to return home to Chile.
The panel heard six days of argument on whether Gen Pinochet, who is under arrest at a north London clinic, should enjoy immunity from charges of genocide and torture.