PINOCHET: CHILEAN APPEALS COURT DECISION

Responding to reports of this afternoon's ruling by the Chilean Appeals Court that Augusto Pinochet must stand trial on human rights charges, Amnesty International offered a cautious welcome.

Amnesty International Chile researcher Virginia Shoppee said:

'Today's news may well turn out to be another milestone on the long, long road to justice for those that were killed, tortured or 'disappeared' in Chile during the Pinochet years.'

'We will be examining the full text of today's ruling extremely closely.'