judicial

Group requests extradition

Lawyers representing leftist organizations in Panama have asked the government to begin extradition proceedings in the case of four Cuban nationals who allegedly plotted to kill Fidel Castro.

The four Cubans, who were led by Luis Posada Carriles, were convicted of possessing explosives and other charges. The men, however, received a pardon from former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso in 2004, and were subsequently released. They then left the country to live in the United States.

A ruling by the Supreme Court, however, deemed that the pardons, as well as those in 182 other cases, were granted improperly.

That decision prompted the lawyers, who represent student, labor and indigenous groups, to ask the government to extradite the Cubans so that they can serve their sentence. The Attorney General's office has pledged to review each of the cases covered by the Supreme Court decision.