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    December 11, 2011

Noriega Returns to Panama

   VOA News
   The plane carrying Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega is seen at
   Orly airport near Paris, France, December 11, 2011. Photo: Reuters
   The plane carrying Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega is seen at
   Orly airport near Paris, France, December 11, 2011.

   Manuel Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s,
   returns home Sunday.
   He has spent more than 20 years in prisons in the U.S. and France after
   being convicted on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. He
   left France early Sunday in Panamanian custody.
   Noriega faces three separate prison sentences of 20 years in Panama for
   crimes committed under his dictatorship, including the murder of
   critics.
   The 77-year-old former leader qualifies for house arrest because of his
   age. The Panamanian government will make that decision.
   Protesters have rallied ahead of his return to urge the government to
   keep him in prison.
   Analysts say Noriega's return is not likely to have a major political
   impact on Panama, which has enjoyed an economic boom in recent years.
   Noriega was the ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. He had been a paid
   CIA agent before a falling out with Washington, then was toppled in a
   U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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