Key dates in the career of Gen. Augusto Pinochet

By The Associated Press

Associated Press

2006-12-11 10:02 AM

Key dates in the career of Gen. Augusto Pinochet:

Aug. 23, 1973 _ Named commander of the Chilean army by Marxist President Salvador Allende.

Sept. 11, 1973 _ Leads bloody military rebellion against Allende, who committed suicide in his presidential palace under air and ground attack.

Dec. 11, 1974 _ Pinochet, until then head of a four-man military junta, takes the title of president of the republic.

March 11, 1981 _ Pinochet is sworn in as president according to newly written constitution.

May 1983 _ Pinochet regime faces first widespread protests, reacts with strong repression.

Sept. 7, 1986 _ Survives attempt on life by pro-Communist guerrilla gang. Five bodyguards are killed.

March 11, 1988 _ Signs law restoring legal political parties, except Marxists.

Oct. 5, 1988 _ Loses referendum that would have extended his rule eight more years.

Dec. 16, 1989 _ Loses presidential election to Patricio Aylwin, a Christian Democrat.

March 11, 1990 _ Pinochet hands over presidency, remains army commander.

Jan. 20, 1998 _ The Communist Party files first criminal suit against Pinochet for human rights violations during his regime. Many more suits would follow.

March 10, 1998 _ Pinochet steps down as army commander, enters Senate as senator-for-life, a post created in the constitution written by his regime.

Oct. 16, 1998 _ While recovering from back surgery in England, Pinochet is arrested on a warrant issued by Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon.

March 2, 2000 _ British authorities allow Pinochet to return to Chile because of deteriorated health.

January 2001 _ Judge Juan Guzman issues first indictment of Pinochet on human rights charges. But case falters because courts rule poor health rules out a trial.

July 2004 _ A U.S. Senate investigation reveals that Pinochet has a fortune in foreign bank accounts, estimated by a Chilean judge at US$28 million. Pinochet is indicted for tax evasion.

Nov. 25, 2006 _ On his 91st birthday, Pinochet issues a statement taking "full political responsibility" for the actions of his government.

Dec. 3, 2006 _ Hospitalized after suffering acute heart attack, undergoes angioplasty.

Dec. 10, 2006 _ Pinochet dies at age 91.