The World - News from June 2, 1989

The Senate approved a non-binding resolution telling President Bush it would not give its consent to appointment of a new Panama Canal administrator until a democratically elected government is in power in the Central American nation. Its sponsor, Republican Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana, said the intent was to “signal a yellow caution light” to military strongman Manuel A. Noriega that Americans see the situation in Panama as “intolerable.” Panama has nullified the May 7 presidential election, which the opposition appeared to have won. Under the Panama Canal Treaties, beginning Jan. 1, the administrator is to be appointed by Panama but approved by the U.S. Senate.