THE Prime Minister took the moral high ground by arresting the former dictator of Chile, General Augusto Pinochet, for possible extradition to Spain for abuse of human rights.

I think that this was, to say the least, an unwise decision by the Prime Minister and his advisers. General Pinochet is an old man in failing health and as Baroness Thatcher reminded us in 1982, he assisted Britain during the Falklands War, helping to save many British lives. I do not doubt that there was abuse of human rights during his time in power. Alas, that is true of many countries in the world. All this can do is to harm Britain's relations with Chile, and other South American countries.

Where is the consistency of Mr Blair's Government? A short time ago he was happy to visit China, whose record on human rights is appalling.

Is this the same Mr Blair who, in Northern Ireland, released people from prison who have committed appalling crimes? Or was General Pinochet's arrest because, in the past, he was a hate figure of the Left?

J LEE (Mrs), Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn.

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