Noriega puts down coup

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 8

Noriega puts down coup

NZPA-Reuter i | Panama City General Manuel Antonio Noriega has survived a coup attempt which he said was' United Statesinspired jbut faced continued political unrest and economic crisis after violent lanti-Government demonstrations paralysed the capital. Shooting broke out early yesterday morning at the military command headquarters, where a group of officers led by the head of Panama’s military i police, Colonel Leonidas Macias, tried to take over.

A military statement said the coup attempt was put down “without bloodshed” and accused the United States of inspiring lit. The officers involved, the statement said, had been {trained in the United ‘ States, where they ‘[had been influenced and compromised to betray their oath and the fatherland.”

{Five : officers — Colonel, Macias, three majors jand a captain — were named in the statement, || {which said all were under arrest. There was no mention of injuries or deaths. Diplomatic sources said there were deaths and injuries, but none could be confirmed. Genial Noriega, Panama’s de facto ruler, who faces drug charges in the United) j! States and is I under j growing pressure j to step-down, showed he was still in control and; appeared at the headquarters around midmorning surrounded by loyal officers. Diplomats said the 16,000-jstrong Panama Defence Forces was a close-knit group and it as difficult to predict whether General Noriega faced | any other breaks in loyjaity. Meanwhile, residents: took to the streets in the most {widespread display) yet of? discontent with General Noriega’s de facto [rule. | Electricity across the city | I went off around noon and remained off throughout the day. It was {unclear what caused the power failure or how long; jt| would last. Workers joined other protesting public employees demanding payment) from the Governmentwhich has been left virtually without cash by United States-engineered economic sanctions. j The j moves, including freezing of SUSSO million in Panamanian assets in the United States, forced the closing of banks in Panama on March 4 and left (many Panamanians withoiit money to buy

food.} I A spokesman for the United States Southern Command, Washington’s regiqniai military headquarters, said the 10,000 American troops based in Panama had been placed on alert and their movements restricted. I