Panama’s former dictator, Manuel Antonio Noriega has been is recognized by France as a "prisoner of war".

The decision by the Paris Court of Appeal means that he will now be allowed visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross in La Sante prison.
He has been there since April 27 when the United States extradited him to France to serve a sentence of 10 years in prison for laundering $3 millionfrom the Medellin drug cartel.

The decision was taken Saturday, (May 7) at a hearing of the court convened to consider an appeal submitted by Noriega for release, an issue that was postponed to May 21.

In Panama retired Gen. Ruben Dario Paredes, said it was a "humanitarian gesture and an act of solidarity" with U.S. justice, acknowledging Noriega as a military person.

Former Col. Roberto Diaz Herrera, said that the state of Noriega’s health entitled him to such recognition.
Former Vice President Guillermo (Billy) Ford said he did not understand the decision."How a 'prisoner of war', if France has not been at war with Panama?"