People

Christmas in exile

Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, held in Britain pending extradition proceedings for alleged human rights crimes, observed Christmas Eve with his family under police guard in a luxury house near London. The one-time strongman was being allowed to celebrate Roman Catholic Mass privately at the house, after a London court ruled he would not be allowed to attend midnight Christmas Mass in church. Pinochet, 83, is fighting attempts to extradite him to Spain to face charges of a long list of alleged offences including murder and torture, relating to his 1973-90 dictatorship.

His wife and three of his five children plus some 20 grandchildren have arrived in Britain to share the enforced Christmas exile. A rightwing Chilean deputy, Ivan Moreira, a close friend and political ally, said: 8220;The family want to make it as much like anormal Christmas in Chile as possible.8221; A Chilean priest, Ivan Wells Leon, was expected in London to celebrate the private mass at the house.

Pope at midnight

Pope John Paul II used his address during Christmas mass at midnight to look ahead to events at the end of the millennium next year. The Pope was speaking in the Vatican basilica before an estimated audience of 20,000 people, including cardinals, diplomats and prelates. More than 500 million people in 40 countries were able to follow the mass on television or on the Vatican8217;s own Internet site. 8220;I am already thinking of Christmas next year, when, by God8217;s grace, I will inaugurate the great jubilee by opening the Holy Door,8221; said the Pope, according to an advance copy of his speech.8220;This will be a great holy year, in truth, because it will celebrate in a very special way the bi-millennium of the mystery event of the Incarnation, thanks to which humanity has reached the peak of its vocation.8221; During the mass, the Pope said prayers for8220;the leaders of countries and international organisations whose task it is to work for justice and peace.8221; Twelve children 8212; from Italy, Poland, Bosnia, Croatia, Mexico, South Korea, India, Western Samoa, Zambia and Lesotho 8212; presented the pontiff with flowers.

Cannabis Charles

Anti-establishment forces campaigning to legalise cannabis could be joined by an altogether more orthodox figure 8212; the Prince of Wales has hinted that he approves of its use as an alternative method of pain relief. During a visit to a day care centre he suggested to a multiple sclerosis sufferer that cannabis might ease her crippling pain. Karen Drake, confined to a wheelchair by her illness, met Prince Charles at the Sue Ryder Home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, when he made an informal visit. After asking after her health, the prince inquired whether she had experimented with alternative remedies. 8220;He asked me if I had tried taking cannabis, saying he understood that, under strict medical supervision, it was one ofthe best things for it,8221; she said.

Drake, aged 36, admitted she was was somewhat taken aback; she told him she had never tried the drug and pointed out that it was illegal. But she had felt touched by his concern. 8220;I was surprised that he asked me, but it was nice of him to be so considerate. It showed that he had thought about the condition, and knew what was helpful.8221; A spokeswoman for Prince Charles declined to comment on remarks which she said had been made during a private visit. Prince Charles, who as an adolescent experimented with nothing stronger than cherry brandy, did not suggest the drug be decriminalised. Nevertheless, campaigners for legalisation seized on his comments.