General Noriega's fall from grace

General Manuel Antonio Noriega's extradition to France from Miami ends more than half a century of dealings between the US and the former Panamanian strongman.

His US connection goes back to the 1950s, when according to various accounts, he was recruited as a CIA informant while studying at a military academy in Peru.

Noriega eventually became a prized American "asset" in a region that was becoming politically hostile to US interests after the rise of the Cuban Revolution.

He rose within the ranks of the Panamanian armed forces to become a key ally of General Omar Torrijos, the military ruler who signed a treaty with the US to restore the Panama Canal zone to Panamanian sovereignty in 1977.

Snoop for hire?

After Torrijos's death in a mysterious plane crash in 1981, Noriega became the power behind the scenes as head of the security services.

WHO IS MANUEL NORIEGA? Became de facto ruler of Panama in 1983, head of defence forces Formerly one of Washington's top allies in Latin America US later accused him of drug-trafficking and election-rigging Surrendered to invading US troops in 1990 and was flown to the US Also faces a 20-year sentence at home imposed by Panama court Q&A: Noriega extradition

The US relied on Panama as a regional listening post and Noriega obliged with unfaltering support in the Contra war in Nicaragua, and the fight against the FMLN guerrillas in El Salvador.

At the same time he began to play an increasingly repressive role internally in Panama, especially after the assassination of Hugo Spadafora, a political opponent who was found beheaded in 1985.

This did not have an immediate effect on his dealings with Washington.

Noriega allegedly played a role in the mid-1980s Iran-Contra affair, which involved the smuggling of weapons and drugs to aid US undercover efforts to support the anti-government forces opposing the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua.

However, the US became increasingly suspicious of Noriega amid indications that he was selling his services to other intelligence bodies, not to mention drug-trafficking organisations.

Red underwear

These tensions became public in 1988 when Noriega was indicted in a US federal court on drug-trafficking charges.

Panama's authorities have never been keen about Noriega coming home

The US invasion of Panama in 1989 and Noriega's subsequent arrest put an end to his de facto regime.

It also created an international spectacle during a trial that revealed titillating details of his personal life.

At the time it was said he wore red underwear to ward off the "evil eye".

In 2007 he finished his sentence after 17 years of confinement and public silence in a Miami federal jail.

He lived in a special cell with a television set and other privileges that normally elude others behind bars.

His lawyer Frank Rubino told the BBC at that time that he would soon be a free man, but would have to face charges for the Spadafora murder if he ever returned to Panama.

He was convicted in Panama of the crime and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

But behind the scenes the Panamanian authorities have never been enthusiastic about the possibility of Noriega returning home.

Many feared he could play a destabilising role in Panamanian politics, even as a 76-year-old.

They must have breathed a sigh of relief after the US Supreme Court ruled in March that the extradition request to France could proceed.

His flight to Paris to answer charges of money laundering has neatly avoided a potential predicament for the Panamanian authorities.

Datum: 27. 04. 2010