The 30th anniversary of Allende's death has led to an outpouring of public emotion

The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda described him as an "immortal corpse", while one of the foreign musicians who travelled to Santiago for a concert commemorating the 30th anniversary of his death titled a performance "Salvador Allende, Son of God".

But Mr Allende has his critics.

Economists say the 1970-1973 Allende experiment - which saw the nationalisation of the banking and copper industry - was nothing short of a disaster.

Strikes held by shop keepers, students and professionals in protest at the forced redistribution of wealth to workers and peasants, meant Allende was under siege from even his own supporters.

Fourth attempt

Salvador Allende was born in 1908 in the central port town of Valparaiso - his father was a lawyer.

Expelled from university for political activities, Allende later returned and graduated in medicine in 1932.

A year later he helped found the Chilean Socialist Party.

Allende supporters have marked his 1970 victory

In 1970 he became president on his fourth attempt.

Pursuing a leftist agenda, Allende established diplomatic relations with Cuba and moved closer to China, North Korea and North Vietnam.

Suicide claim

But as inflation spiralled out of control the chasm between the left and right in Chile widened.

In 1973, the army led by Augusto Pinochet attacked the presidential palace.

When soldiers reached Allende he was already dead.

His doctor believed he committed suicide and his family have never disputed it.