Chile's Supreme Court said on Wednesday former military leader Augusto Pinochet can face criminal charges related to the murder of dissidents in 1975 under his rule.

Supreme Court President Jose Benquis told reporters the ruling was made by a vote of 10-6. It was the third time that Pinochet was stripped of immunity from prosecution, a privilege of former presidents.

The ruling authorized Judge Victor Montiglio who is handling the case to make investigations and collect evidence.

The cases involved 119 leftists who were detained by Pinochet's secret police, but Pinochet's case known as Operation Colombo would be limited to 15 victims whose family members filed a lawsuit against him. The Santiago Appeals Court decided to remove Pinochet's immunity in July.

The Supreme Court has upheld the immunity removal ruling against Pinochet twice before, but he avoided being charged on grounds of poor health. The ex-ruler suffers from diabetes and heart problems, and allegedly has mild dementia.

Pinochet, 89, ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, a period when more than 3,000 people died in political violence.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2005)