Chile’s President Skips Pinochet Funeral

Thousands of supporters of former Chilean military leader Gen. Augusto Pinochet gathered early Tuesday in Santiago for his military funeral.

Pinochet was facing charges of human rights abuses when he died Sunday at age 91. Chilean President Michele Bachelet said Pinochet would receive a military rather than state funeral. Accordingly she was not planning to attend and the government was to be represented by the Defense minister, the BBC said.

Monday, thousands of people filed past Pinochet’s coffin, although the country remains strongly divided on whether Pinochet was a national hero or a criminal, and some scuffles were reported.

Flags at government buildings were not lowered, although a correspondent said some flags at other buildings were flying at half-staff on Monday.

Pinochet took power in a 1973 coup and ruled for 17 years, during which more than 3,000 people mysteriously disappeared.

A cremation was scheduled after the military service.