Another retired general, Luis Cortés Villa, director of the Pinochet Foundation, a group dedicated to promoting his legacy, called Judge Guzmán's action a political ruling.

At the same ceremony, Hernán Guiloff, president of the Pinochet Foundation, also justified the former dictator's political policies, noting that he died without ever being convicted of any crimes.

"We are pleased," said Hernan Guillos, vice president of the Pinochet Foundation, an organization that seeks to promote the former dictator's image.

Lord Bell has also performed public relations work for the authoritarian government of Belarus, and for the Pinochet Foundation (Fundación Pinochet).

In the past, a legal proceeding would bring out substantial crowds to demonstrate in his favor outside the headquarters of the Pinochet Foundation, which promotes the general's legacy.

The day Jack Straw announced the examination results," she said, "only 50 people gathered at the Pinochet Foundation.

"Pinochet rescued and transformed Chile into the country we all feel proud of," Hernán Guillof, president of the Pinochet Foundation, said to a group outside the hospital.

Across Santiago, a hundred supporters of General Pinochet celebrated at the offices of the Pinochet Foundation with patriotic chants and songs.

Monica Wehrhan, spokeswoman for the Pinochet Foundation, insisted that most donations came from working class supporters who pledged sums of as little as $4.

Luis Cortés Villa, president of the Pinochet Foundation, an institution dedicated to promoting the general's legacy, said he hoped that the ruling would finally end the prosecution.