The former commander of the Chilean army, General Juan Emilio Cheyre, has been detained for alleged involvement in the killing of 15 people in the aftermath of the 1973 military coup, BBC News reports.

Cheyre was a young officer at the time of General Augusto Pinochet's coup. He was accused of complicity in the killing of left-wing activists in the northern city of La Serena.

The operation was part of the notorious Caravan of Death.

The Caravan of Death was a a military unit despatched by General Pinochet to remote Chilean areas to hunt down opposition activists. They travelled from town to town in a helicopter.

Gen Pinochet said there would be no mercy for "extremists", and was reportedly annoyed by news that some commanders in provincial towns had been "soft" on political opponents.

Cheyre was army commander from 2002 to 2006, after Chile returned to democracy. During his time as army chief, Cheyre said a coup and humans rights violations should "never again" happen in Chile.

Eight other former officers have been accused of taking part in the operation in La Serena on 16 October 1973.