Pinochet fuels clashes 31 years on

Protesters clashed with police officers in the suburbs of Santiago as well as in Rancagua, Concepcion, Valdivia and other cities.

In Santiago, two police officers and a protester were injured by gunfire in the violence which broke out in poor neighbourhoods.

Protesters raised barricades, raided shopping centres, hurled stones at vehicles and threw molotov cocktails at police.

The first rioting broke out in Santiago after a march honouring the memory of the 3000 victims of the Pinochet regime.

Gen Pinochet, who ousted socialist president Salvador Allende in the September 11 coup, remained in power until 1990. Mr Allende died in the violent takeover.

President Ricardo Lagos, also a socialist, condemned the violence today as he left mass. The violence "does not represent what Chile wants," he said. "I believe those Chileans are not understanding the national feeling."

The interior ministry said 165 people were arrested in Santiago and 40 in other parts of the country.

On the anniversary, thousands lit candles and held a vigil around the National Stadium, which had been turned into a torture centre in the early days of the Pinochet regime.

The president did not participate in any commemorative ceremonies.

Gen Pinochet, 88, remained at his residence in eastern Santiago. He went to the front door and waved to supporters that marched past and cheered him.

The former dictator narrowly avoided being interrogated by a judge last week for his role in rights abuses during his regime.

Chile's Supreme Court rescinded his immunity from prosecution last month, opening the way for him to stand trial for his part in Operation Condor, a conspiracy of South America's 1970s military dictatorships to eliminate their opponents and spirit the bodies away to other countries in the network: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Hundred of Chileans participate in a protest in remembrance of the military coup in 1973, in Santiago, September 11, 2004. While the rest of the world remembers the attacks on New York and Washington, Chileans mark their own September 11, the 1973 military coup that 31 years later still scars the national soul. A military junta took power, ushering in the 17-year dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet , whose so-called dirty war claimed some 3,000 lives. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Chileans face a water cannon during a protest in remembrance of the military coup in 1973, in Santiago, September 11, 2004. While the rest of the world remembers the attacks on New York and Washington, Chileans mark their own September 11, the 1973 military coup that 31 years later still scars the national soul. A military junta took power, ushering in the 17-year dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, whose so-called dirty war claimed some 3,000 lives. REUTERS/Lukas Coch REUTERS

A Chilean demonstrator holds a Molotov bomb during a protest in remembrance of the military coup in 1973, in Santiago, September 11, 2004. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

A demonstrator throws rocks at police during a protest that marked the 31st aniniversary of the military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, in Santiago, Chile. Saturday, Sep. 11, 2004. (AP Photo/Santiago Llanquin)

Riot police detain a demonstrator during protests that marked the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)

A demonstrator uses a sling to throws rocks at police during a protest to mark the 31st anniversary of the military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)

Demonstrators carry posters against U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush during a march marking the 31st anniversary of the military coup led by Gen Augusto Pinochet, in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004. (AP Photo/Santiago Llanquin)