Chile's Pinochet denies links to torture

SANTIAGO, Chile, - Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet today denied any responsibility for the torture of opponents to his 17-year rule at one of the country's most infamous secret detention centres.

Pinochet, who ruled Chile from 1973-1990, told a federal judge during a one-hour meeting at his residence in Santiago that he was not involved in what happened at Villa Grimaldi and had no knowledge of it.

At Villa Grimaldi, a political detention centre run by Pinochet's secret police, thousands of people were tortured between 1974 and 1977.

"The general maintains his opinion that he does not believe he was responsible, and that he is not even aware of the circumstances, or even the names (in the torture cases)," Judge Alejandro Solis, in charge of the Villa Grimaldi investigation, told reporters after meeting with Pinochet.

Solis seeks to charge Pinochet with 23 cases of torture of political prisoners, and 36 cases of disappearances at the centre.

Villa Grimaldi is the prison where Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, the country's first woman president, was held and tortured three decades ago. Bachelet's case is not among those Pinochet was questioned about.

The Supreme Court stripped Pinochet of immunity from prosecution earlier this year so he could face charges of human rights abuses committed at Villa Grimaldi.

Today was the first time he was questioned about torture at the detention centre on the outskirts of Santiago.

The 90-year-old former dictator has been questioned in other cases relating to his time in power.

An estimated 3,000 people died or disappeared under Pinochet, while 28,000 were tortured, according to an official report.

Dozens of military officers and former agents of the secret police have been convicted of human rights crimes.

Solis said Pinochet was cooperative today, responding to between 15 and 20 questions in the space of an hour, but in many cases he simply said he did not remember.

Pinochet is under indictment for tax fraud and kidnapping -- a charge that refers to people who disappeared in police custody and are presumed dead.

- REUTERS