Hundreds of jubilant opponents of Gen Augusto Pinochet braved freezing temperatures in Madrid yesterday evening to converge on the central Puerta del Sol in an impromptu celebration of the decision by the British Home Secretary.
The news that Mr Jack Straw had ruled that the extradition process for the former dictator could go ahead as requested came as a surprise to the hundreds of Chilean exiles in Madrid.
"I don't believe it!" gasped Mrs Matilde Martinez, when she heard. Mrs Martinez's brother and sister both disappeared during the Pinochet dictatorship, and she was jailed and suffered torture. "It is the best news I have heard in years, and I am sure that 90 per cent of Chileans welcome the decision," she said.
She and the other Chilean exiles accept that this is only the first step in what is likely to be a long and complicated process during which there is little they can do but watch and wait. They stress that they are not demanding revenge or even severe punishment for Gen Pinochet.
"We just want him to be brought for trial so he can be found guilty of murder and genocide. We need to have a decision before we can have a healing process in Chile," said Ms Marcela Pradena, another exile and former kidnap victim.
The investigating magistrate, Mr Baltasar Garzon, and lawyers representing the victims and their families will argue their case before the British courts. Mr Garzon is expected to present a formal indictment shortly. A member of his staff said recently that the case could continue for several months before any extradition might be approved. He added that it was likely a decision would not be reached until next summer.
Mr Isabelo Herreros, a human rights expert with the United Left coalition party, which started the legal proceedings against the former Chilean and Argentine dictators, welcomed the decision.
"This is very important news, particularly on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights," he said. "The results will not be immediate, but it is a major leap forward in the process. It means the end for all Latin American dictators." His views were echoed by Mr Diego Lopez Garrido, a former member of United Left and a law professor at Madrid University. "This is an important step towards the setting up of a universal court of human rights," he declared.
Ms Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, the former Socialist junior minister of justice, welcomed the news and called for the resignation or dismissal of the Attorney General and State Prosecutor, both of whom have expressed their opposition to Judge Garzon's extradition request.
The Spanish government has stressed that it respects any decision reached by the British or Spanish courts, although it would prefer that Gen Pinochet be returned to his own country.
"This is merely the beginning of a long and complex process, and we must not politicise the decision," said Mr Josep Pique, the government spokesman and a member of the cabinet.