U.S. orders more troops into riot-wracked Panama
NZPA Washington President George Bush has ordered more troops to Panama to protect United States lives after violence over disputed elections, and called on Panama’s armed forces to desert their leader, Manuel Antonio Noriega. Mr Bush announced yesterday he was sending an additional 1881 troops to U.S. military bases in Panama because of Thursday’s violence in which opposition leaders were attacked by militia men wielding iron bars.
He also recalled the U.S. Ambassador to Panama, ordered U.S. Government employees and
military families to leave the country or move to military bases and vowed to use “regional diplomacy” to remove General Noriega. Mr Bush accused the military leader of defying the will of the people. “The United States stands with the Panamanian people. We share their hope that the Panamanian Defence . Forces will stand with them and fulfil their constitutional obligation to defend democracy.” The United States: and several independent groups say the opposition presidential candidate,
Guillermo Endara, won a 3-to-l victory over a pro-Government coalition in Sunday’s election. But a Government electoral tribunal on Thursday night nullified the vote, widely regarded as a plebiscite on General Noriega. Opposition charges of widespread fraud led to protests on Thursday during which paramilitary forces clubbed Mr Endara and vice-presidential candidates with iron bars and baseball bats as soldiers stood by. Washington has been trying to oust General Noriega by applying, economic and political pressure against him since he was indicted
on United States drug charges in February, 1988. “The Noriega regime first tried to steal this election through massive fraud and intimidation, and now has nullified the election and resorted to violence and bloodshed,” Mr Bush told a White House press conference. Mr Bush, who began a threeday domestic speechmaking trip despite the Panama crisis, said the soldiers would join some 11,000 U.S. troops permanently garrisoned in American bases in Panama. ‘Dignity Battalions,’ page ,12
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Press, 13 May 1989, Page 1
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319U.S. orders more troops into riot-wracked Panama Press, 13 May 1989, Page 1
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