Allende family wants exhumation

April 13, 2011
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Pînochet and his generals in 1973. Photo Chas Gerretsen, Nederlands Fotomuseum

The family of Chilean President Salvador Allende, who died during the 1973 Pinochet coup, is requesting that his body be exhumed in order to help determine the cause of death, Democracy Now! reports:

Allende was overthrown in a U.S.-backed coup. His official cause of death was listed as suicide, but it has long been speculated he was assassinated by the forces of General Augusto Pinochet. Allende’s daughter, Isabel Allende, spoke to the media: “We requested the exhumation and autopsy. I think it’s the most rigorous and definitive proof to clear up the causes of his death, and we think this is going to be tremendously important.”

More from the Associated Press.

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