Ex-Panama dictator dies at 83

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, died late yesterday at age 83.

Noriega was ousted by a United States invasion in 1989.
Panama’s President, Juan Carlos Varela wrote on his Twitter account, "The death of Manuel A. Noriega closes a chapter in our history."

Varela added: "His daughters and his relatives deserve to mourn in peace."

Noriega ruled with an iron fist, ordering the deaths of those who opposed him and maintained a murky relationship with the United States.

After his downfall, Noriega served a 17-year drug sentence in the United States, then was sent to face charges in France. He spent all but the last few months of his final years in a Panamanian prison for the murder of political opponents during his 1983-89 regime.

In recent years, Noriega suffered various ailments including high blood pressure and bronchitis.