WORLD IN BRIEF : PANAMA : U.S. to Return Arms Seized in Invasion

Military assault rifles, pistols and other weapons confiscated by U.S. troops during the 1989 invasion of Panama will be returned to help Panama’s poorly armed police force, officials said. Foreign Ministry officials have met with U.S. authorities to negotiate a return of the weapons, but no date has been set for delivery, a spokeswoman said. U.S. officials in Panama had no immediate comment on the arms return. Panama’s 15,000-strong army was disbanded during the December, 1989, U.S. invasion that toppled former strongman Manuel A. Noriega.