Pubdate: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 1999 Houston Chronicle Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Page: 17A NORIEGA EXTRADITION SOUGHT PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Panama will ask the United States to extradite former Gen. Manuel Noriega so that he may serve time for the deaths of soldiers who attempted a 1989 coup. Justice officials said Wednesday that they are making the request in light of a U.S. district court's March 4 decision to reduce the former Panamanian dictator's prison sentence by 10 years. The ruling means Noriega could win parole early next year. Noriega, 62, was arrested when the United States invaded Panama in 1989 and was sent to prison for money laundering and drug trafficking. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea