Ex-president's family says he was killed

SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Former Chilean strongman Augusto Pinochet ordered the death of ex-President Eduardo Frei Montalva, Frei family members have alleged.

During the 25th anniversary of President's Frei's death, his son Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, also a former Chilean president, said his father was killed on the orders of Pinochet, La Nacion reported.

Though medical reports at the time said the ex-president died of septicemia, a recent examination of Frei Montalva's remains revealed traces of mustard gas in his remains, the report says.

Pinochet, who died last month, was blamed for overseeing 3,000 deaths during his 17-year reign (1973-1990).