The surprising arrest of General Pinochet late last Friday as he recovered from back surgery in a London clinic has stoked a political feud between government and opposition.

The arrest of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in London has opened a new chapter in the fight against the impunity enjoyed by human rights violators in Chile.

Gen. Augusto Pinochet, who ruled Chile as a despot for 17 years, has been arrested in London after Spain asked that he be extradited for the presumed murders of hundreds of Chilean and Spanish citizens.

Those who brought the suit against Pinochet, in and outside Chile, hope that the case might allow some measure of belated justice and ease the pain they continue to suffer as a result of the dictator's atrocities.

The international arrest warrants issued by the Spanish judges may put a severe crimp in the travel plans of Pinochet, Galtieri and company for the rest of their dawned lives.