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| Noriega suffers extradition blow | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A US judge has rejected an appeal by former Panamanian President Manuel Noriega that sought to block his extradition to France. | A US judge has rejected an appeal by former Panamanian President Manuel Noriega that sought to block his extradition to France. |
| Miami District Judge William Hoeveler dismissed defence claims that Noriega would not be treated as a prisoner of war in France as he is in the US. | Miami District Judge William Hoeveler dismissed defence claims that Noriega would not be treated as a prisoner of war in France as he is in the US. |
| Noriega's 17-year US term for drugs offences, which he is serving in a Florida jail, is due to end on Sunday. | Noriega's 17-year US term for drugs offences, which he is serving in a Florida jail, is due to end on Sunday. |
| He was convicted in absentia in France in 1999 of money laundering. | |
| Further appeals | |
| In his ruling, Judge Hoeveler lifted a temporary curb on extradition proceedings that he imposed earlier this week. | |
| He also said that Noriega, 73, must remain in the US jail until he completes his term. | |
| The ruling, however, may still be open to further appeals from Noriega's lawyers. | |
| Noriega was sentenced to 10 years in France for laundering money through French banks to buy three luxurious apartments. | |
| Noriega was once one of Washington's top allies in Central America. | |
| But charges of drug-trafficking, election-rigging and human rights violations led to the US invasion into Panama and the seizure of Noriega in 1989. |