The Associated Press
Sunday, December 10, 2006; 10:01 PM

WASHINGTON -- The White House on Sunday marked the death of former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet by calling his rule a "difficult period" and commending the country for establishing a free society.

"Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile represented one of the most difficult periods in that nation's history," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. "Our thoughts today are with the victims of his reign and their families. We commend the people of Chile for building a society based on freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights."

Pinochet terrorized his opponents for 17 years after taking power in a bloody coup.

His death put an end to a decade of intensifying efforts to bring him to trial for human rights abuses blamed on his regime. He was 91.

Pinochet died with his family at his side at the Santiago Military Hospital on Sunday, a week after suffering a heart attack.