Panama Seeking Noriega's
Return, Despite France's
Request
Panama says it still
wants former dictator
Manuel Noriega sent back
to his native country
after he is released
from a U.S. prison in
September.
U.S. prosecutors filed a
request on Tuesday to
have Noriega extradited
to France on behalf of
the French government.
Noriega was convicted in
France in absentia in
1999 on drug trafficking
and money laundering
charges. He faces a
10-year prison sentence
and a multi-million
dollar fine.
The former dictator has
also been convicted in
absentia in Panama for
the 1985 murder of
dissident leader Hugo
Spadafora.
Panamanian Foreign
Minister Samuel Lewis
says his government
expects its extradition
request to be honored.
Noriega's attorney Frank
Rubino says his client
is protected under the
Geneva Convention
because a judge has
declared him a prisoner
of war. Under the
Convention, a prisoner
of war who has served
his sentence must be
sent back to his native
country.
U.S. forces captured
Noriega after invading
Panama in 1989. He was
convicted in 1992 on
drug trafficking,
racketeering and
conspiracy charges. His
scheduled release
follows the conclusion
most of his 30-year
prison sentence.
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