Inquiry into 1973 death of Chile's Salvador Allende

BBC News, 7 January 2011

Chile's authorities have said they will launch the first inquiry into the death of socialist President Salvador Allende.

Salvador Allende's death was
officially ruled a suicide

His death, during the 11 September 1973 coup that brought Gen Augusto Pinochet to power, had officially been ruled a suicide until now.

The inquiry is said to result from one of hundreds of human rights complaints made against Pinochet's military rule.

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Allende was found dead in the presidential palace during the coup.

Some 726 complaints of alleged human rights violations never before examined by the judicial authorities were put before a special judge in the Chilean capital, Santiago, on Wednesday.

Thousands of activists were killed or disappeared during Pinochet's 1973-1990 rule.