Noriega likely back in Panama for Christmas

Panama’s former  military dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega could be back in Panama for Christmas if the paperwork is expedited, say agency reports.

He is  imprisoned in France for money laundering,  and his extradition got US approval Wednesday s ays , his Panama lawyer, Julio Berrios.

"If the bureaucracy, both in France and Panama are expeditious, Noriega will be in Panama before Christmas," said Berrios told reporters.

The decision of the US government, which affects the second request for the extradition of Noriega, was sent today to the former  strongman during a hearing in the Court of Appeal of Paris.

A second hearing will be held on November  23 in the same court, to officially close the proceedings and then his  delivery to Panama becomes dependent on the administrative process between the governments of France and Panama.

Berrios said it is possible that the family will send the a doctor to accompany the 76 year old during his trip to Panama, given his health problems.

The layer said that once Noriega gets to Panama  he will meet with him and his family to deal with all aspects of the processes that are pending in Panama.

Economist Mario Rognoni, Noriega's personal friend, agreed that Noriega  is scheduled to arrive before  December 25..

On the possibility that Noriega associates to promote a general welcoming crowd on arrival, said that there is much speculation about it and  “I think it will be very difficult to do for safety reasons.

"It's probably not even be accessed (the place of arrival)," he added.

Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, said today in London, before knowing the decision of the Court of Appeal of Paris, that if Noriega isextradited to Panama, " he is going to jail."

Martinelli, who today ended a three-day visit to London, also noted that, although the law of his country "does say that a citizen of more than 72 years may be granted the privilege of house arrest, that will not necessarily happen, but a judge has to decide. "

Noriega has  being held in Paris since 2010,  after arriving from the United States, and is currently serving a sentence of seven years for laundering drug money.

From 1990, after being ousted by a U.S. invasion of Panama, to 2010, Noriega was imprisoned in the United States for drug trafficking.