US judge halts Noriega extradition

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

MIAMI (AFP) — A US federal judge on Thursday blocked the extradition of Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega to France, saying he had not exhausted his possible appeals.

Noriega, 73, in September completed a 17-year US prison term on drug charges but has remained in US custody while appealing his extradition to France where he faces money laundering charges.

Judge Paul Huck in Miami said that the Panamanian former strongman was entitled to have his appeals heard by a court in the state of Georgia, and possibly even before the US Supreme Court.

"It appears that these are legal issues on which no other federal court has ruled, directly or indirectly," Huck said, ordering that the extradition procedures remain suspended.

The ruling was likely to...