Judge lifts stay blocking Noriega's extradition

[March 25, 2010]  MIAMI (AP) -- A Miami federal judge has lifted a stay blocking former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega from being extradited to France.

U.S. District Judge Paul Huck issued the order Wednesday, two days after the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not reconsider Noriega's request to stop his extradition to France on money laundering charges. Noriega's lawyer, Frank Rubino, has said he will travel to France in the next few weeks to try and work out a deal with French authorities.

It's not clear when Noriega will be moved from Miami to France.

Noriega was ousted as Panama's leader and put on trial following a 1989 U.S. invasion that drove him from power. He was convicted of drug racketeering and related charges in 1992. His sentence ended in 2007, but Noriega remains in prison.

[Associated Press]

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