Pinochet claims to be `only political prisoner'

The former Chilean president Gen Augusto Pinochet spoke to the press at the weekend for the first time since his arrest

The former Chilean president Gen Augusto Pinochet spoke to the press at the weekend for the first time since his arrest. He claimed he was "England's only political prisoner".

The general denied he ever ordered the torture of political opponents during his time in power and insisted that his arrest in London amounted to kidnapping.

Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Gen Pinochet complained that the British government was releasing IRA prisoners but was continuing his detention. "Bandits, criminals, how could I put it? Violent people, they are all pardoned."

He accused the British authorities of "playing with the life of a person who is very old". He went on to describe himself as a person who was "at this very precise moment the only political prisoner in England".

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When asked about the charges of "crimes against humanity" which have been brought against him, he insisted: "As general of the republic I never accepted torture . . . Not now and I don't think I could ever do something like that . . . I didn't have time to control what others were doing. To say that is gross slander."

The Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation has reported that more than 3,000 people "disappeared" during his rule.

Gen Pinochet said that as former head of state he accepted political responsibility for everything which happened in Chile. However, he does not accept judicial responsibility. "Otherwise," he said, "we would all be guilty. Mr Clinton would be guilty of certain events in Kosovo."

The general is being held under house arrest in Surrey pending extradition proceedings which begin on September 27th at Bow Street Magistrates Court. If his extradition to Spain is approved, it will be appealed to the High Court and then the House of Lords.