Former Chilean dictator Pinochet in hospital

General Augusto Pinochet was admitted to hospital for the second time in two weeks today, undergoing what the ex-Chilean dictator’s spokesman said was “apparently just a series of routine medical tests”.

The hospital admission comes two days before a hearing on whether to strip the 89-year-old Pinochet of the immunity he has as former president in a case involving human rights abuses during his 1973-90 dictatorship.

The Santiago Military Hospital confirmed that Pinochet had been admitted but gave no other details.

Radio Cooperativa of Santiago said the tests undergone by Pinochet included a brain scan.

The former ruler has suffered several mild strokes in recent years, according to his doctors, including one that led to a spell in hospital last month.

His health has twice led courts to drop charges against him stemming from the human rights abuses under his regime, but he still faces several criminal suits filed by the victims or their relatives.

In one of those cases the Santiago Court of Appeals is to hold hearings on Wednesday on whether to allow Pinochet’s trial in the 1974 killing of 119 dissidents whose bodies were found in Argentina, a case known as Operation Colombo.

Pinochet opponents insist he and his associates exaggerate his health problems to escape court action.