Panama Says U.S. Threatening Invasion Over Slaying of Officer

Panamanian officials said today the commanding general of U.S. troops here has threatened to invade unless Panama explains the killing of an American officer near Panamanian defense headquarters.

American soldiers were put on maximum alert after the officer was fatally shot and a Navy couple was arrested and beaten Saturday night not far from the military headquarters of the Panamanian leader, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega.

U.S. troops in battle gear patrolled perimeter fences at their bases and Panamanian troops blocked the street in front of the military headquarters, but life was normal in the rest of the city despite tension over the killing.

U.S. and Panamanian forces were holding a “dialogue” on the incident by messenger, Lt. Col. Arnulfo Castrejon said at a news conference. He said that U.S. Army South commander Gen. Marc Cisneros had threatened an invasion.

“He demanded an explanation, if not, they would invade,” Castrejon summarized one message as saying. When asked why the United States had not already invaded, Castrejon said, “You’ll have to ask them. It could be they realize they went through the checkpoint.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command, which controls all U.S. forces in Panama including U.S. Army South, said he could not comment immediately on Castrejon’s statements.