Page "History of Chile" Paragraph 77

In its " Agreement ", on August 22, 1973, the Chamber of Deputies of Chile asserted that Chilean democracy had broken down and called for " redirecting government activity ", to restore constitutional rule.

Less than a month later, on September 11, 1973, the Chilean military deposed Allende, who shot himself in the head to avoid capture as the Presidential Palace was surrounded and bombed.

Subsequently, rather than restore governmental authority to the civilian legislature, Augusto Pinochet exploited his role as Commander of the Army to seize total power and to establish himself at the head of a junta.