MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile's Pinochet Hospitalized After Fall

Former dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet was hospitalized Friday after falling and breaking his shoulder.

A close associate to Pinochet, retired Gen. Luis Cortez, said Pinochet fell at his countryside residence near Santiago and was rushed to the hospital by helicopter.

Santiago Military Hospital officials said the 88-year-old former ruler was to be released later Friday.

Pinochet has retired from public life; associates say he devotes most of his time dealing with his poor health. Last November, Pinochet was admitted to the hospital with a broken left wrist after falling at home. He has a pacemaker, suffers from diabetes and arthritis and has sustained at least three minor strokes since 1998.

His health problems led Chilean courts to drop charges filed against him for alleged human rights abuses during his 1973-90 regime. Some 3,197 people were killed for political reasons during his long reign, according to a report by the civilian government that succeeded Pinochet in 1990.