COMBAT IN PANAMA : Noriega’s U.N. Ambassador Appeals for Truce

Gen. Manuel A. Noriega’s ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday urged the world body’s Security Council to appeal to President Bush for a cease-fire in Panama.

Ambassador Mirla Bellavita also asked the council to send international observers to monitor a withdrawal of U.S. troops from her nation.

Bellavita earlier outlined the pro-Noriega strategy at a closed-door meeting of nearly 100 nonaligned members of the world body. The Security Council held an evening meeting on the Panama fighting.

The ambassador contended that Noriega “still was in Panama, moving around for security reasons” but maintaining contact with members of the Panama Defense Forces.

After hearing Bellavita and Nicaraguan Ambassador Alejandro Serrano Caldera, the nonaligned group adopted a declaration denouncing “this unacceptable act of intervention” and affirming its “solidarity with the Panamanian people.” The statement also called on the United States to “cease immediately all military operations in Panama and to solve outstanding issues with that country through dialogue and negotiations.”

Nicaragua, which requested the Security Council session and which was to be the only non-member of the council to speak Wednesday, circulated a draft resolution that would condemn the invasion as a “flagrant violation of international law.” It also would demand “immediate cessation of the invasion and withdrawal of troops.”

The United States has veto power over any Security Council actions. Chinese Ambassador Li Luye said, after emerging from informal consultations, that “most of the delegates want to have an immediate meeting.” But he added that “one or two wanted more time.”

U.S. strategy was to adopt a waiting stance as the search for Noriega went on and as more than 24,000 troops moved to crush Noriega’s forces and consolidate the position of Guillermo Endara, the U.S.-backed president.

The conflict in Panama was mirrored at the United Nations when delegates loyal to Noriega vowed to remain as Panama’s official voice.

But the Endara administration sent its own U.N. ambassador, Harvard University scholar Eduardo Vallarino, who remained in a nearby hotel while Noriega supporters retained possession of their plush offices just north of the U.N. headquarters. The Noriega diplomats entered their mission at 6 a.m. Wednesday and instructed building staff members to bar visitors.

U.S. Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering told reporters that the council had agreed not to hear either of the Panamanian factions. Panama is not a council member.

Throughout the day Wednesday, an atmosphere of crisis gripped the world body. Members of the Security Council met in informal deliberations as consensus built for the formal session.