Judge: Noriega must go to France

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- For the third time, a federal judge has rejected attempts to block former Panamanian leader Gen. Manual Noriega's extradition to France to face money laundering charges.

Wednesday's ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Paul Huck may at last clear the way for Noriega's transfer from a U.S. prison cell to France.

But it's not expected to happen soon: Noriega's attorneys have said they would immediately appeal a negative ruling to a federal appeals court in Atlanta, Georgia.

Huck ruled he is satisfied France has provided assurances Noriega will be treated as a prisoner of war in accordance with the Geneva Conventions even though he might not be specifically labeled a POW by France.

Noriega's attorney, Frank Rubino, said he disagrees with the judge. "And we believe that the Geneva Convention clearly prohibits the extradition of a prisoner of war and requires immediate repatriation back to his own country."

He told CNN he will appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, as expected, a process expected to take at least several months.

Noriega has had POW status while serving a drug racketeering sentence in the United States. That allowed him privileges not given to other prisoners, including a larger cell, better food and other special conditions.

The former dictator was captured January 3, 1990, after holing up for 10 days in the Vatican Embassy in Panama City following the December 20, 1989, U.S. invasion of Panama.

He was convicted in 1992 of eight counts of drug smuggling and racketeering and sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, later reduced to 30 years. Noriega was the first foreign head of state to be tried and convicted of a crime in the United States.

He was due to be released last September in Miami, Florida, and petitioned the court to send him to Panama, which has requested his return to face murder and corruption charges there. He has already been tried in absentia in Panama.

However, the United States has opted to give precedence to France's request that he be sent there to be tried on less serious charges of money laundering.

He has already been tried in absentia in France. His extradition to France would land him in a cell to begin serving a 10-year sentence.

The 73-year-old former dictator is said to be in poor health and wants to serve any remaining time in Panama.

Noriega was not at Wednesday's hearing. E-mail to a friend

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