An appeals court in Santiago dropped homicide and kidnapping charges today against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. The court supported the defense's claim that Judge Juan Guzman acted illegally by indicting Pinochet before questioning him.

Chile's Supreme Court has stripped former dictator Augusto Pinochet of immunity from prosecution. But lawyers say putting the 84-year-old retired general on trial on human rights charges could take years.