Noriega's legacy still stirs anger in Panama

Manuel Noriega's legacy stirs anger among survivors of his 1983-1989 dictatorship, but it is unclear if young Panamanians care about the ex-general, analysts and observers said.
Noriega, 76, appeared before a French magistrate in Paris on Tuesday to face charges of laundering drug money after he was extradited one day earlier from the United States.
As dictator Noriega, a one-time CIA asset, was ruthless in crushing any opposition to his grip on power. He was overthrown and captured in a US invasion in 1989, then convicted on drug trafficking and spent years in US prisons.
"If he has to serve a sentence in France or any other country, so be it," said Jose Domingo Torres, elected to Panama's legislature in a 1989 vote that Noriega cancelled.
"And if he still has any life after France, he has to serve time in Panama," said Torres.
Noriega has three convictions for human rights violations in Panama, each carrying a 20-year prison sentence.
Panama said Monday it respected the "sovereign" US decision to extradite Noriega to France, but insisted he still be brought back to Panama to serve the outstanding prison sentences.