Chilean judge orders resumption of probe into Pinochet's assets

Chilean judge Juan Guzman on Thursday ordered the resumption of investigation into the assets of former military ruler Augusto Pinochet, seven months after the probe was suspended, according to local news reports.

Guzman was quoted as saying that the resumption of investigation was demanded by relatives of 10 dissidents under Pinochet's rule. Nine of the 10 disappeared and the other was found dead.

The disappearances and death occurred during Operation Condor, a secret program in several Latin American countries in the 1970s aimed at eliminating opponents of military regimes.

On Tuesday, the US Senate released a report, claiming that Pinochet had at least 125 secret accounts in the United States, including those under false names at Riggs Bank in Washington, through which millions of dollars were transferred.

Pinochet, 89, took power in 1973 in a military coup. He is facing charges of human rights violations.

Source: Xinhua