-Caveat Lector- Pinochet refuses to recognize British extradition authority December 11, 1998 Web posted at: 10:44 a.m. EST (1544 GMT) LONDON (CNN) -- Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet refused to recognize the authority of the British court in which he appeared Friday, as a judge began extradition proceedings against him. The 83-year-old retired general, who ran Chile with an iron hand from 1973 to 1990, came to court in a wheelchair and wearing civilian clothes. "With respect to your honor, I do not recognize the jurisdiction of any other court except in my own country to try me against the lies of Spain," Pinochet told the British magistrate, Graham Parkinson, through an interpreter. Spain wants Pinochet extradited to face charges of murder, torture and kidnapping relating to his rule over Chile. More than 3,000 people, including Spanish citizens, died or disappeared while Pinochet ran the country. Parkinson ordered a January 18 hearing to determine when the full extradition hearing will take place. Pinochet will remain under house arrest until then, although Parkinson allowed the general to walk around the garden of the home he rents outside London. Legal observers say Pinochet could stay in Britain for as long as two years while he fights extradition. Pinochet's initial court appearance was the first time he has been seen in public since his arrest in October on charges stemming from his military dictatorship. A police motorcade took him to the Belmarsh Magistrate's Court in London, where he was greeted by demonstrators on both sides of the issue. Supporters of the retired general chanted "Free Pinochet" from behind police lines outside the courthouse, while others shouted back and waved placards declaring "Don't let this butcher go!" Many of the several hundred protesters chanted "murderer" in Spanish as Pinochet's car swept into the court complex to the cheers of his supporters. A police helicopter hovered overhead as police escorted Pinochet on the 90-minute trip from the estate he has rented outside London. "I am here to see the man who did all those terrible things," said Roberto Luiz, whose aunt was among the hundreds rounded up in Santiago's football stadium after Pinochet ousted President Salvador Allende in a military coup in 1973. But the former dictator's supporters, many of whom flew in from Santiago for the appearance, heavily outnumbered his critics. Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon issued a 285-page indictment of Pinochet on Thursday, accusing him of masterminding a multinational "criminal organization" that waged a campaign of genocide while he was in power. British Home Secretary Jack Straw approved extradition proceedings against the former dictator on Wednesday. Chile recalled its ambassador to London on Wednesday to protest Straw's decision as crowds burned British flags outside the country's embassy in Santiago. Meanwhile, Pinochet's attorneys are challenging a ruling by Britain's Law Lords that Pinochet does not have immunity. His attorneys contend that one of the Lords, Lord Hoffmann, has ties to Amnesty International, which has campaigned for Pinochet's extradition. The Law Lords voted 3-2 against Pinochet on November 25. A House of Lords committee will hear the appeal. Pinochet granted himself and other senior officers amnesty in 1978, and has claimed immunity as a member of the Chilean Senate. Pinochet took the lifetime seat upon retiring from the army this year. London Bureau Chief Tom Mintier, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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