Noriega Indicted on Drug Charges

MIAMI--Panama's military strongman, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury here on charges of aiding international cocaine traffickers, sources said on condition of anonymity.

The 30-page indictment includes racketeering and other drug-related charges, the sources said

The indictment was presented yesterday to Chief U.S. Magistrate Peter Palermo, who immediately ordered it sealed at the request on Assistant U.S. Attorney William Junge.

U.S. Attorney Leon Kellner of Miami scheduled a news conference for today at which he is expected to announce the indictment. In addition, the U.S. attorney's office in Tampa, which has conducted a parallel drug investigation of Noriega, has also said it will make "an important announcement" today.

Noriega, who leads Panama's national guard, is considered to be the power behind the civilian government.

Witnesses before the Miami grand jury included two former Noriega associates. Jose Blandon, fired earlier this month as Panama's consul general in New York, and Floyd Carlton, Noriega's former personal pilot.

The witnesses, who also spoke before congressional committees, accused Noriega of protecting drug shipments by Columbia's Medellin Cartel in return for expensive bribes, and of providing facilities for smugglers.

Federal drug officials say the cartel is responsible for 80 percent of the cocaine reaching the United States.

A formal indictment may not topple Noreiga, but it will push him into a corner, said former U.S. Ambassador to Panama Ambler Moss yesterday. He compared Noriega to the Philippines' Ferdinand Marcos and Haiti's Jean-Claude Duvalier.