President of chile overthrown in 1973

He committed suicide under mysterious circumstances as troops surrounded his palace, ushering in more than 15 years of military dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet. Since that time, the CIA has acknowledged knowledge of—but not involvement in—the plot. The agency "was aware of coup-plotting by the military, had ongoing intelligence collection relationships with some plotters, and—because CIA did not discourage the takeover and had sought to instigate a coup in —probably appeared to condone it," the CIA writes in a history of its operations in the South American country.

The fascist soldiers, Castro said, cut him down in a hail of bullets. This account was taken up by many supporters of Allende and persists in various forms to this day. In the aftermath of the coup, General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, commander in chief of the armed forces, became dictator of Chile. In , Pinochet agreed to a national referendum on the future of Chile, and a majority of Chileans rejected the continuation of his dictatorship.

Under pressure from prosecutors in Europe, U. The CIA refused to release many of the documents, however, citing fears that they would reveal operational methods still in use around the world by the CIA. Back in Chile he resigned his senatorial seat in after a Supreme Court ruling that he could not stand trial based on his failing health. In December he was charged with several crimes.

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President of chile overthrown in 1973

Wake Forest News Toggle Navigation. Wake Forest News General Pinochet's regime was characterised by brutal repression and 3, people were killed or disappeared during his 17 years in charge. He died aged 91 in Santiago in December Despite his human rights record, many Chileans loved him and said he saved the country from Marxism. Explore the BBC.

Front Page Years Themes Witness. About This Site Text Only. One report says the year-old leader committed suicide rather than surrender to the commanders of the armed forces and the paramilitary police. Air Force planes attacked the presidential palace with rockets and bombs and tanks opened fire after President Allende rejected an initial demand for his resignation.