Pinochet to have coronary bypass after heart attack
Augusto Pinochet, Chile's leader from 1973 to 1990, is to have a coronary bypass operation on Sunday after suffering a heart attack, a very risky operation for someone of his age, doctors told media.

Pinochet, who turned 91 on Nov. 25, was taken to Santiago's military hospital at 3:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), after an early morning heart attack in his Santiago home, where he is under house arrest.

Doctors said they would also examine his first heart bypass.

Ahead of his operation, Pinochet's children Augusto, Lucia and Marco Antonio visited him as did the commander of the Chilean army, Oscar Izurieta.

Doctors had placed Pinochet in a drug-induced coma, however.

Speaking to media at the military hospital, Pinochet family spokesman Guillermo Garin, said Pinochet had received a blessing with sanctified oils ahead of the operation.

He described Pinochet's condition as very serious.

Around 50 Pinochet supporters gathered outside the hospital, waving photos of him. One held a large red, white and blue Chilean flag. Others wept and chanted his name.

Also on Sunday, Hiram Villagra, a lawyer who is part of the legal team prosecuting Pinochet in the so-called Caravan of Death case told media he suspected Pinochet's team was exaggerating the attack.

"I honestly hope he does not die and I have a strong suspicion that his situation is being magnified and exaggerated as part of his defense strategy," said the lawyer.

He said this would not halt Monday's prosecution bid to halt a provisional liberty claim by Pinochet's defense team.

Pinochet faces two other indictments - one for human rights abuses and one on tax charges.

According to an official report prepared by an independent commission appointed by the first civilian government after Pinochet's rule, 3,197 people were killed for political reasons during his regime and more than 1,000 of them were "disappeared."