Right-wing billionaire Sebastian Pinera set himself up for an election run-off against a veteran of the coalition that has ruled Chile for two decades of democracy.

Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet has taken full responsibility for the first time for the actions of his 1973-90 dictatorship, in which thousands were killed.

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was arrested in Chile today on charges involving corruption and massacres, as he attempted to return to Peru to run for re-election after five years as a protected exile in Japan.