Many heads and former heads of state accused of various crimes will now sleep more soundly

Many heads and former heads of state accused of various crimes will now sleep more soundly. The ruling has extracted the governments of both Spain and Britain from a tight corner, and probably helped avoid problems in Chile. But how can we forget his crimes and leave his victims without redress?El Pais, Spain. WHAT IS the point of prizes? I mean, in practice they are remarkably ineffective things, whether we are talking about the Gramophone Awards, the Booker Prize, or the Turner Prize.

Nothing will be the same again, not for Chile, nor for dictators. The former dictator will not be tried in Chile, where he is protected by the military, but he will never again be able to travel the world freely as if he had never hurt a fly.La Vanguardia, SpainBRITAIN'S HIGH Court did not examine the substance of the crimes that Judge Garzon attributes to Pinochet, but limited itself to covering up with diplomatic immunity all the acts carried out by the Chilean ex-dictator. European countries have been queuing up in recent days to condemn him. He may have won the legal battle, but morally he has not escaped scot-free.

The court ruling has helped to calm the country and is a first step towards putting behind us an episode that has wounded the dignity of many Chileans. El Mercurio, Chile THE DOCTRINE that the High Court in London has invented for this occasion is extremely dangerous. By adopting it, the UK could become a paradise for all deposed dictators According to this, not even Hitler could have been tried. If this absurd doctrine is not rejected by the Lords, anyone who became head of state and government by whatever means would enjoy for the rest of their days immunity in the UK, even though they were guilty of robbery, torture and mass murder.El Mundo, SpainIT IS not difficult to conclude, despite the legal verdict, that Pinochet, with his detention in London, has been morally condemned at an international level.

Given the gross historical inexactitudes that have been flying around, we suppose that political considerations will prevail over juridical ones. The British judges have shown surprising courage and independence. Lord Jenkins and his colleagues have gone a long way towards designing a system that meets these objectives.. CHILEAN PUBLIC opinion has realised, during these days in which Pinochet has been deprived of his freedom, the extreme levels of politicisation and disinformation that characterise the European version of national events in the last quarter century. It could help to restore people's damaged faith in politics, it could give us more confidence as citizens, and it could make politicians more accountable to their electors. There is no sense in holding a referendum and then having an election on the old system whatever the outcome.This newspaper has always taken the view that the present electoral system is unsatisfactory; that reform will not make us better or richer people, but that, if the right system could be devised, it would breathe new life into our democracy. A first-stage reform could satisfy the spirit of that pledge, while the referendum could be held later, on the question of the "top-up" element, which could be brought in only at the election after next because it requires new boundaries.

The former French Open champion overcame the American, Todd Martin, winning 6-4, 7-5.Henman remains optimistic about accumulating the 250 points that would guarantee his place in the top eight when the counting stops on 16 November "I am still very happy with the situation I am in," he said. The Dutchman served brilliantly yesterday to defeat Andre Agassi, 6-3, 6-4 (Agassi has already secured one of the places).Krajicek, who today plays Goran Ivanisevic, another challenger for Hanover, postponed a knee operation to compete during the indoor season. "I think my tennis is better than before my injury [he damaged his left ankle at Queen's Club the week before Wimbledon]; it's just a case of getting the mental stability."Rafter, who also lost to Rusedski in the quarter-finals in Vienna, said he would return to his base in Bermuda after next week's tournament in Paris. But would he return for Hanover? "I'm drained mentally," he said. "I'll have to review things, but there's a good chance I'll play."Gambill, ranked No 50, only broke Henman's serve once. That was in the third game of the opening set, and Henman immediately broke back. But the Briton let himself down by double-faulting in two tie breaks to lose the third round match 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 after two hours and 14 minutes.Two of Henman's rivals for Hanover, Karol Kucera and Petr Korda, lost ground in the second round, but Richard Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, may be about to make a late run.