
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990                   TAG: 9003112745
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SANTIAGO, CHILE                                 LENGTH: Medium

MANY LEADERS GIVE PINOCHET ONE LAST SNUB

To supporters' cheers and opponents' cries of "murderer," right-wing Gen. Augusto Pinochet ended his last full day in power Saturday with a call for national unity behind his elected successor.

Pinochet was snubbed by 10 foreign leaders, who delayed their arrivals for today's inaugural ceremonies until he hands over power to Patricio Aylwin. Only three heads of state arrived during the day Saturday.

In a taped good-bye speech broadcast nationally on television and radio Saturday night, Pinochet called on his countrymen "to unite their forces to those of the new authorities."

"The president who is assuming power has the right to expect, from each of us, a responsible attitude," he said, standing erect in a white dress army uniform with the presidential sash.

The 74-year-old general plans to stay on as commander of the 60,000-man army, despite requests by Aylwin that he fully retire.

In 1988, a proposal to extend Pinochet's rule to 1997 was defeated in a referendum, and the loss forced him to call elections last December.

Aylwin, a 71-year-old Christian Democrat backed by a coalition of 17 centrist and leftist parties, won 55 percent of the vote. His closest challenger, a former Pinochet finance minister, won 29 percent.

Pinochet feted visiting dignitaries in the presidential palace Saturday afternoon.

Those who arrived Saturday included presidents Alberto LaCalle of Uruguay, Carlos Menem of Argentina and Jose Sarney of Brazil.

Among those delaying their arrivals were presidents Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela, Alan Garcia of Peru, Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, and prime ministers Giulio Andreotti of Italy and Felipe Gonzalez of Spain.

Chilean Foreign Minister Hernan Errazuriz criticized their decisions, saying they displayed "a lack of education."

U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle arrived late Saturday from Venezuela and planned to meet with Pinochet at his residence in a Santiago neighborhood this morning. Speaking at the airport, Quayle said the United States expects Pinochet to honor "a new era" of civilian rule.

by CNB