International

Noriega to fight extradition today

CORTESÍA/GM/PAN

DICTATOR: Frank Rubino (right) and Jon May (left) have been defending Noriega (center) since his capture by US authorities in 1990. 967234

There will be another hearing today in Miami on the extradition of Manuel Noriega to France. It will be held before federal Judge Paul Huck, as lawyers for the former dictator will present a petition to block his extradition to France, an action that was ordered by the American court last year.

Noriega's attorneys, Frank Rubino and Jon May, are insisting that Noriega's case is covered by the Geneva Convention because he is a prisoner of war, and that he should be repatriated to his home country.

Additionally, Noriega's lawyers are expected to argue that France does not recognize Noriega's status as a prisoner of war. They are expected to present as evidence a transcript of a press conference in Paris at which the spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said that "Noriega may not have the status of prisoner of war as defined by the Geneva Convention."

French officials, however, have said that Noriega will receive the same treatment in that country that he received while a prisoner in the United States.

Noriega has been detained in Miami since 1990. Convicted in 1992 of drug trafficking and other charges, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison, but the sentence was later reduced to 30 years. Noriega, after receiving credit for good behavior, completed his sentence on Spetember 9, 2007, but has remained in custody until the extradition issue is resolved.