Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega

A federal judge (William Hoeveler) in Miami ruled Friday that Noriega can be extradited to France to face money-laundering charges. The judge also lifted a temporary stay of extradition, rejecting defense arguments that France would not grant Noriega the protections of prisoner-of-war status. Noriega's attorneys say they will appeal.

VOA's Brian Wagner looks at Panama's troubled past under Noriega.

Former General Manuel Noriega ruled Panama for more than 16 years despite never winning an election. Once an ally of the United States, Noriega sparked condemnation when his government was blamed for killing political opponents, rigging elections and trafficking Colombian cocaine into the United States. After months of tensions, U.S. military forces invaded Panama in late 1989 and seized Noriega.

Guy Lewis

Lewis says that during the trial Noriega felt that the charges against him were politically motivated and asked courts to declare him a prisoner of war. Lewis says what investigators found was a vast drug network linked to Panama.

"We always felt that this was a drug case. Clearly it had political ramifications, but we were trying to prove this guy smuggled dope, facilitated the smuggling of dope through his country, protected it, laundered the money that came back and that is what his role was."

Noriega's lawyers have filed court appeals claiming that his P.O.W. status blocks any extradition to France, where he faces money laundering charges. U.S. courts have rejected the appeals. Panama also has asked for Noriega's extradition to face charges of embezzlement, corruption and murder.

Luis Botello

Botello says there is frustration that many of Noriega's former allies remain in power, and, he says, there has been no real effort to prosecute others accused of crimes during Noriega's rule. Botello says the recent extradition debate revives difficult memories about Noriega's dictatorship. "The fact that Noriega's possible return has stirred up so many strong emotions some 17 years later, shows that Panama is not ready to have him here yet, even if he went to prison."

Botello says Panama's government still needs to rebuild the public's confidence, which was damaged during the dictatorship. He says that may be easier without the former general.