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Noriega Inspires Fight between Panama, France

Each country wants ex-dictator to serve jail time after US release

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 28, 2007 4:34 PM CDT

(Newser) – Manuel Noriega will be released from a Miami prison in September, but where he'll go after that is up in the air. The US wants to transfer the deposed dictator—convicted of corruption, kidnapping, and murder—to France for more jail time. But some Panamanians want him in a local prison, the NY Times reports. American officials say Noriega’s return could derail Panama’s progress.

“Noriegistas” remain in the government, which is still controlled by the party Noriega ran before he was seized in 1990. The diminutive dictator says he has no plans to return to politics. In Panama he was convicted of, among other things, beheading a political rival; in France, drug money laundering.

PANAMA. La Mesa. 1988. General Manual NORIEGA greets Panamanians at the opening of an electrical plant. (NYC21643)
PANAMA. La Mesa. 1988. General Manual NORIEGA greets Panamanians at the opening of an electrical plant. (NYC21643)   (Magnum Photos)
PANAMA. La Mesa. 1988. General Noriega greets Panamanians at the inauguration of an electrical plant in La Mesa. (NYC27204)
PANAMA. La Mesa. 1988. General Noriega greets Panamanians at the inauguration of an electrical plant in La Mesa. (NYC27204)   (Magnum Photos)
General Manuel Noreiga
General Manuel Noreiga   (Archive Photos)
Manuel Noriega is shown in this undated file photo. Federal prosecutors filed papers Tuesday, July 17, 2007 to have former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega extradited to France for trial on charges of using drug money for financial transactions -- after the U.S. drug trafficking sentence he is serving expires...
Manuel Noriega is shown in this undated file photo. Federal prosecutors filed papers Tuesday, July 17, 2007 to have former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega extradited to France for trial on charges...   (Associated Press)
Former Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriega Attends Extradition Hearing
Former Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriega Attends Extradition Hearing   (Getty Images (by Event))
WORLD NEWS NORIEGA 1 MI
WORLD NEWS NORIEGA 1 MI   (KRT Photos)
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