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- NATION, Page 23Meanwhile, in Panama
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- The Bush Administration stepped up its attack on another
- old drug-dealing foe last week: Panama's General Manuel Antonio
- Noriega. At a meeting of the Organization of American States,
- Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger charged that the
- strongman had amassed a personal treasure of at least $200
- million through criminal activities, mostly drug trafficking.
- Eagleburger contended that Noriega has "protected" cocaine
- shipments to the U.S. from Colombia, permitted construction of
- a cocaine laboratory in Panama and laundered millions in drug
- money. Declared Eagleburger: "Noriega's greed, personal ambition
- and selfishness are the origin, core and sustenance of Panama's
- crisis."
-
- Next day Noriega thumbed his nose at the U.S. He selected
- an old crony, Francisco Rodriguez, as Panama's new President.
- Noriega's choice replaces Manuel Solis Palma, who became acting
- President in February 1988, after Noriega fired Eric Arturo
- Delvalle, who had attempted to oust Noriega as commander of the
- Panamanian Defense Forces. The U.S. continued to recognize
- Delvalle, even though he had fled to Miami. His term officially
- ended on Friday. Bush vowed to continue pressing U.S. efforts
- to force Noriega from power.
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