Chile's Pinochet suffers heart attack

Santiago: Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet suffered a heart attack on Sunday and is in a serious but stable condition, a military hospital in Chile's capital Santiago said.

Pinochet, who has been under house arrest for the past five years, stands accused of human rights abuses, fraud and corruption carried out during his 17 years in power.

"The diagnosis at the time of arrival was cardiac arrest ... and a pulmonary edema," the hospital said in a statement.

Under his regime more than 3,000 people died in political violence, many at the hands of secret police.

Despite concerted efforts, no one has ever brought the former dictator to trial. His defence lawyers have always successfully argued that he is too ill to face charges.

Last week Pinochet marked his birthday by issuing a statement in which he accepted "political responsibility" for acts committed during his rule. However, he said his only motive was to make Chile "a great place and prevent its disintegration."

"Today, close to the end of my days, I want to make clear that I hold no rancor toward anybody, that I love my country above all else," he said in the statement.