France plans to extradite fomer Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega to face charges in his home country, Noriega's lawyer said.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon signed the extradition order in early July, lawyer Yves Leberquier said late Tuesday. Leberquier added that his client did not plan to appeal.

Noriega last year began serving a seven-year prison term in France for laundering drug money through French banks.

He had served 20 years in a US prison in Miami before being extradited to France.

Panama has said the United States has consented to Noriega's extradition to Panama. Washington's permission is required by treaties, as Noriega has not completed his full prison term on US soil.

There was no word as to when Noriega would be extradited.

The 77-year-old has three human rights convictions in Panama for crimes committed during his military rule from 1983 to 1989. Each of the convictions carries a 20-year sentence.

Author: David Levitz (AP, AFP)
Editor: Andreas Illmer