Noriega dismisses money laundering charges

Former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega has dismissed money-laundering charges against him as an imaginary banking scheme, at a trial in Paris.



Noriega, who is said to be 76, is reported as saying he was the victim of the same conspiracy that held him in US custody for 20 years for drug-trafficking.



Noriega ruled Panama from 1981-89 and was extradited from the US in April.



A French court sentenced him in his absence to 10 years in 1999, but agreed to a new trial if he was extradited.



The trial is currently on its second of an expected three days.



However, the verdict is not expected to be announced for several months.