President to discuss Pinochet

Santiago - Chile's President Ricardo Lagos will meet today with the heads of the armed forces to discuss the house arrest of …

Santiago - Chile's President Ricardo Lagos will meet today with the heads of the armed forces to discuss the house arrest of Gen Augusto Pinochet on charges of kidnap and murder during the former dictator's 1973-1990 rule.

The order against Gen Pinochet, the military's father figure, has raised concern within the Chilean military, which still wields enormous power in the South American nation of 15 million people. "The president has called a meeting with the commanders-in-chief for tomorrow," the Interior Minister, Mr Jose Miguel Insulza, told reporters.

Mr Lagos will meet the four heads of the armed forces in the presidential palace La Moneda as soon as he gets back from Mexico, Mr Insulza said.