Extradition fight halts Noriega's release

[graywarrior]

By The Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) - Manuel Noriega's drug racketeering prison sentence ends today, but it doesn't appear the former Panamanian dictator is going anywhere.

Noriega's attorneys have said their client will stay at a minimum-security prison near Miami while they appeal orders to extradite him to France.

The Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta rejected a second attempt by Noriega on Friday to block the extradition.

The court says Noriega is entitled to return to Panama because he was previously declared a prisoner of war.

Prison officials and Noriega's attorneys haven't returned calls today seeking confirmation that Noriega remains in South Florida.


(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)