Manuel Antonio Noriega in 1985. Born in Panama City in 1934, he graduated from military school in Peru. Noriega became intelligence chief to Gen Omar Torrijos who seized power in a coup in 1968. Noriega secretly collaborated with the CIA, which was gathering intelligence on the spread of communism in Latin America. Efe
Manuel Antonio Noriega in 1988. The lack of democracy in Panama under Noriega's military rule became a major issue as the U.S. prepared tio turn over control of the Panama Canal in the late 1980s. Noriega was formally indicted in Miami in February 1988 for drug trafficing. The country fell into a deep economic recession and demonstrations against the government were brutally repressed. Crédito: CARLOS SCHIEBECK/Getty Images
On October 3, 1989, rebel forces attempted a military coup against Noriega. Several coup leaders were later killed in suspicious circumstanecs. The National Assembly of Panama formally named Noriega as head of government. In the photograph, General Noriega leaves his headquarters in the city of Panama after the failed coup. Crédito: BOB SULLIVAN/AFP/Getty Images
Santiago, Panama: U.S. soldiers run for cover following their landing in December 1989 in Panama. The military operation, codenamed 'Just Cause', involved 26,000 US troops and lasted two weeks. At least 400 Panamanian civilians and military were killed, and 23 U.S. military. The invasion was condemned by the UN and the OAS. (MANOOCHER DEGHATI/AFP/Getty Images) Crédito: MANOOCHER DEGHATI/Getty Images
General Noriega took refuge on Christmas Eve in the Papal Nunciature, where he surrendered 10 days later on Jan 3 to U.S. authorities. Troops surrounded the Vatican embassy for three days and nights bombarding it with rock music. In the photograph, American soldiers in front of the Vatican embassy, where Noriega hoped to obtain asylum. (JONATHAN UTZ/AFP/Getty Images) Crédito: ONATHAN UTZ/AFP/Getty Images
A year later in 2011 Noriega was sent back to Panama where he faced 60 years in jail for a prior conviction - in absence - for corruption, as well as the murder of opposition leader Hugo Spadafora and the assassination of former army officers, In the phonto he arrives, aged 77, at Renacer jail, December 11, 2011. RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP/Getty Images
On June 24, 2015, Noriega publicly asked for forgiveness from jail. "I apologize to any person who feels offended, affected, harmed or humiliated by my actions or those of my superiors in fulfilling orders or those of my subordinates during the time of my civilian government and military."
Crédito: Guillermo Cochez/Wikicommons
Crédito: Guillermo Cochez/Wikicommons