Death of a Dictator

General Pinochet of Chile is dead. The guy who was made head of the armed forces by President Allende, only to overthrow him weeks later on September 11th, 1973, with CIA backing. He gave Chile Operation Condor and the Caravan of Death. What a malevolent piece of work.

Here is Allende's last speech (translation here), broadcast over the air during the coup - while the Moneda Palace was under attack.

Here is Pinochet's obit in The Economist - he also made the same issue's leader column. Here is the Guardian obit and the Independent's.

Pinochet & Allende

The Conspirators

Minister of Defence is Arrested at the Ministry by Pinochet's Troops

Tanks & Troops Move in to Encircle Moneda

Training Guns on Moneda Palace & Pro-Government Sniper Positions

Hawker Hunter Jets Attack Moneda Palace

Attack in Full Swing

Allende Tries to Muster Support to Defend Moneda

Allende and his Bodyguards at Moneda Palace, Under Attack by the Chilean Army & Air Force

Direct Hit

Moneda Palace's Defences are Breached

The Site of Allende's Suicide


The 'Arrest' of Moneda's Defenders (many were later tortured and executed - it's worth reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 'Clandestine in Chile' for a tale of what happened to Pro-Allende film director Miguel Littin)

The General