Pinochet could be placed under house arrest

Judge Alejandro Solis requested the arrest of Gen Pinochet, 90, for 36 cases of kidnap, one of homicide and for 23 cases of torture.

The crimes allegedly took place in the years following his 1973 coup.

The Villa Grimaldi centre was run by his secret police, where thousands were tortured between 1974 and 1977.

Gen Pinochet will be placed under house arrest at his home on Monday, the Reuters news agency reported.

The former leader was under house arrest for seven weeks last year, over the disappearance of three leftists during his rule.

More than 3,000 people were killed when Gen Pinochet was in power from 1973 to 1990.