Chile ending 10-year state of emergency

The Chilean government announced Friday night that it was not renewing the state of emergency that has been in effect ever since a military coup in 1973 brought Gen. Augusto Pinochet to power.

The announcement satisfies one of the demands made by opposition political parties in their first meeting with the President's new interior minister, Sergio Jarpa.

The move meant that the rights of assembly and of freedom of expression would be restored for the first time in 10 years.

Also over the weekend, the military government granted the return of a further 1,160 exiles, continuing the political relaxation begun by Interior Minister Jarpa after his appointment two weeks ago.