Doctors Say Pinochet Had Another Stroke

Gen. Augusto Pinochet was hospitalized after suffering a stroke Saturday, a day after an appeals court delayed a decision on whether to uphold the former dictator’s indictment and house arrest on human rights abuse charges.

Doctors say Pinochet, 89, has suffered several minor strokes since 1998. He also has mild dementia, diabetes and arthritis, and uses a pacemaker.

On Friday, the Santiago Court of Appeals postponed until this week a decision on whether to uphold his indictment and house arrest pending trial in the kidnapping of nine dissidents and the killing of one of them during his 1973-90 military regime.

Pinochet’s health problems spared him from trial three years ago on similar charges.

“Gen. Pinochet suffered a new brain vascular accident with loss of consciousness,” Santiago’s Army Hospital said in a statement Saturday. He has developed moving and neurological problems, “but he has evolved with stable vital signs,” the hospital said.

Pinochet’s spokesman, retired Gen. Guillermo Garin, said the former ruler was rushed to the hospital after “he felt bad during breakfast -- as if he would faint, and doctors decided to take him to the hospital.”

Pinochet’s motorcade entered the hospital in the upscale Providencia district under heavy guard. Minutes later, his wife, Lucia Hiriart, and army commander Gen. Emilio Cheyre also entered, along with several Pinochet relatives.

Pinochet had an unusually active day Friday. He left his country residence at Los Boldos and traveled the 80 miles to Santiago, where he visited his office, saw his dentist and later met with supporters.