The World - News from June 8, 1989

The Organization of American States gave a team of mediators an additional six weeks to work out a democratic transition in Panama, where the national elections were annulled in the wake of violence and charges of fraud. OAS foreign ministers met to review the situation in Panama three weeks after they authorized envoys from Ecuador, Guatemala and Trinidad to try to work out a democratic “transfer of power.” But there was little sign that the goal was near, and they set a new target date of July 19. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Panama City said that due to the worsening political situation there, it is reducing its staff and will halt issuance of non-diplomatic visas.