NATION : Noriega Aide Pleads Not Guilty

A top aide to former Panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega pleaded not guilty today to federal charges that he acted as an intermediary between Noriega and Colombian cocaine traffickers.

Luis del Cid, 46--who surrendered Monday to U.S. troops and was quickly flown from Panama to the United States--is one of five Panamanians, including Noriega, who were named in 1988 drug indictments in Florida. He was ordered held by federal authorities pending a bond hearing Jan. 2 in which federal prosecutors are expected to ask that bail be denied.

Del Cid appeared calm and at ease during his appearance in U.S. District Court, but complained of problems with asthma. He was dressed in a wrinkled blue sports shirt and khaki slacks.

Del Cid is charged with racketeering, drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. He faces a possible prison sentence of 70 years, prosecutors said.

The indictment alleges that Del Cid, a lieutenant colonel in Panama’s military, “acted as liaison, courier and emissary for Manuel Antonio Noriega in his transactions with drug traffickers.”