Chile’s popular president denies delay in sending troops to restore order
By APTuesday, March 9, 2010
Chile’s Bachelet reflects on term in TV interview
SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile’s president denies any delay in sending soldiers out to help with the massive earthquake.
Michelle Bachelet says “that’s false” and insists the military was involved from the start, but in a humanitarian role.
She tells local television that there were no signs of unrest when she went near the epicenter the first day, and that when looting broke out the next morning, she had no problem having troops restore order in the disaster area.
The government response to the quake hasn’t damaged Bachelet’s sky-high popularity — she leaves office this week with 84 percent approval ratings, according to an Adimark tracking poll published Tuesday. The poll was done before and after the quake and had a 3 percent error margin.
