SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Human rights activists in Chile punched their fists on the air in wild celebration Friday after a British court ruled former dictator Augusto Pinochet can be extradited to Spain to face torture charges.

``We are extremely happy, we are extremely emotional. We have waited for this moment for a long time,'' Viviana Diaz, president of Families of the Detained/Disappeared, told reporters at the human rights group's headquarters.

``The dictator is going to Spain,'' Diaz said, prompting shrieks of joy among members of the group, which for years has campaigned for justice for the more than 3,000 people who died or disappeared under Pinochet's iron-fisted 1973-1990 rule.

The human rights activists held hands in a circle in the final moments ahead of the announcement. They broke into tears of happiness when the news broke, hugging each other. The protest group plans a celebration march in downtown Santiago later Friday.

The mood across town at the headquarters of the Pinochet Foundation, where around 200 supporters of the 83-year-old retired general held an all-night vigil in honor of the father-figure of the Chilean military, was subdued.

``It is the expected ruling,'' said a stern-faced Jorge Prado, a director of the foundation, which doles out military scholarships and polishes Pinochet's image. Members of the foundation sang the national anthem after the verdict was announced.

Pinochet was arrested in London nearly a year ago at the request of Spain, which wants to try him on torture charges related to the latter part of his 17-year regime.

Prado, a former agriculture minister in Pinochet's military government, said that the retired general's lawyers would not appeal against Friday's ruling immediately.

``We have 15 days to appeal. We will not appeal immediately, we are going to let the days pass,'' Prado told reporters, adding that in the meantime, Pinochet's followers would press Chile's government to speak out in Britain and Spain.

``Now it is time for the Chilean government to pressure London and Madrid to make them understand the precarious state of Gen. Pinochet's health,'' Prado said.

The former commander-in-chief of the army, whose health has reportedly deteriorated during his house arrest, denies the charges and calls himself Britain's only political prisoner.

There was no immediate reaction from the Chilean government, which has argued that Pinochet should be allowed to return home because of his age and failing health.

Chile also believes domestic courts have primary jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed on Chilean soil.

Chileans spent the night waiting on tenterhooks for the British court ruling, which came as dawn broke in the capital.

Pinochet's critics held a candle-light vigil and danced while awaiting the announcement. About 300 human rights activists kicked off the vigil by marching through the streets of Santiago, holding candles aloft.

About 200 Pinochet supporters started their own vigil with a silent prayer, holding hands in a circle inside the Pinochet Foundation headquarters.

Few Pinochet supporters were surprised by the ruling by Magistrate Ronald Bartle, expected to be appealed by Pinochet's