Britain Questions Panama Envoy After Attack on Consulate
Panamanian Ambassador Guillermo Vega was summoned to the British Foreign Office on Tuesday after an incident Monday in which a group of private security guards he had hired drove a Land Rover into the Panamanian Consulate, then threatened staff members loyal to ousted President Eric A. Delvalle with hammers and forced them into the street.
The seven security guards eventually surrendered to police after a six-hour siege. Although the seven, all British, were taken into custody, Vega claimed the action was within the law.
“They didn’t force their way,” said the ambassador, described as a supporter of Panamian strongman Manuel A. Noriega. “They were authorized by me to take over our premises. “ The assault on the consulate apparently occurred after Panamanian Consul Eduardo Arango resisted Noriega’s attempts to fire him.
“I didn’t think things like this could happen in a civilized country,” Arango said.
If the Foreign Office, after consulting with police, concludes that Vega violated the law, he could face expulsion.
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