London - The former British prime minister, Baroness Thatcher, yesterday hailed Gen Pinochet as a staunch friend of Britain who had been the target of a political vendetta.
"Senator Pinochet was a staunch friend of Britain throughout the Falklands war. His reward by this government was to be held prisoner for 16 months," she said. "In the meantime, his health has been broken, the reputation of our courts has been tarnished and vast sums of public money have been squandered for a political vendetta," she said.