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Panama Rejects Extradition of Suspected Castro Killers
Panama rejected Cuba's request for the extradition of four Cuban exiles accused of conspiring to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
If the suspects are tried in Panama and proven guilty, Luis Posada Carriles and his three associates would be punished in Panama rather than sent to Cuba where the death penalty awaits them, said Panamanian First Vice President Arturo Vallarino.
The 72-year-old Posada and his suspected accomplices were arrested on November 17 when Castro arrived for the 10th Ibero-American summit. Castro personally told authorities about the assassination plot. Havana then requested extradition of the " terrorists."
Posada has been called Cuba's public enemy number one. He has been accused for decades of violence against Cuba, including a 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed 73 people.
Harsh words were voiced from Cuba after Panamanian authorities repeatedly indicated that Posada would not be extradited.
Speaking to a national rally last Saturday, Castro called on his people to prevent "the terrorist leader (Posada) and his followers from escaping justice with the support of their friends from the North (the US)."
Spain, El Salvador, Mexico and the United States were all condemned by Castro for backing Posada and his activities against Cuba.
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