Pinochet's death heralds Chilean clashes

Clashes have taken place between police and opponents to Augusto Pinochet following the death of the former Chilean leader yesterday.

The death of Mr Pinochet, 91, following a heart attack, was greeted with jubilation by many thousands of locals, who took to the streets of Santiago to celebrate.

However, when a number of people attempted to head towards the presidential palace, police fired water cannon and tear gas.

A number of fires were also seen burning in the centre of the city.

At the military hospital in Santiago where Mr Pinochet died, a large number of mourners gathered to pay their respects to the man whom they claimed saved the country from Marxism.

"It is very sad, because it is as if we were left orphans," mourner Maria Santibanez, told the AFP news agency.

General Pinochet was in charge of the country between 1973 and 1990, following a military coup against the democratically elected Marxist government.