U.S. Denies Paying Panama Rebels $1 Million

The Bush Administration today denied allegations by Panama’s Gen. Manuel A. Noriega that the United States paid $1 million to rebel officers to launch last week’s failed coup attempt.

“That’s nonsense,” Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said.

“Absurd,” State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater told reporters in Gulfport, Miss., that he would check the report out, but added, “I don’t believe anything Noriega says.”

Noriega told reporters for The Times and the Boston Globe in an interview Wednesday night that Panamanian investigators discovered a bank account in the name of Capt. Erick A. Murillo, one of the alleged coup leaders, with more than $1 million. (Story, Section A, Page 1.)

“There was a lot of money there for a normal Panamanian,” Noriega was quoted as saying. “Six zeroes. It was a million-dollar account.”

Noriega also said Nicaraguan Contras delivered money and relayed messages between U.S. officials and coup plotters.

“That’s the first I’ve ever heard of something like that,” Tutwiler said of the accusation concerning the Contras.

The Bush Administration has said previously that U.S. officials were notified in advance by Panamanians involved in the coup but did not play a part in planning it.