Noriega Sent to France

(Miami, Florida) SecState Hillary Clinton signed the extradition order to send former Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega to France to face money laundering charges.

Noriega appeared calm and cooperative as agents took him from a federal prison to Miami International Airport and put him aboard an Air France flight for Paris, where he faces trial for money laundering.

The general was taken to the airport shortly after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the extradition order, rejecting a request from Noriega’s attorneys that he be repatriated to Panama instead.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected for the second time an appeal from Noriega against his extradition to France to face money laundering charges.

The general asked the high court to find that as a prisoner of war, he was entitled to return to Panama after serving a reduced 17-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking and money laundering.

Unfortunately, the court ruled that Noriega's POW status doesn't prevent him from being sent to France.