Americans Panama

An American diplomat in Panama was reportedly detained by police while observing an anti-government rally in which one protester was killed and five were wounded, rally organizers and the U.S. Embassy said. Information was being sought on the detention and whereabouts of David Miller, an embassy economic adviser who was watching the demonstration, embassy spokeswoman Cynthia Farrell said.

The decision by three television networks to provide live split-screen coverage of the return of the bodies of U.S. servicemen killed in Panama while simultaneously showing President Bush's press conference Thursday was "outrageous and unfair," White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater complained Thursday. "I was flabbergasted to see it on the screen," Fitzwater said a few hours after the President's meeting with reporters.

The Fighting Armed bands said by U.S. military officials to be directed by ousted dictator Manuel A. Noriega staged a bloody attack less than a mile from the American military headquarters. Firing mortars, machine guns and automatic rifles, the attackers hit Panama's national police headquarters. American forces were caught by surprise and several people were wounded amid the confusion. Panama City Looters ransacked stores for the third day.

President Bush said Tuesday that the failed coup in Panama was not "an American operation" but that the Administration supported the aims of the insurgents, and the White House said the United States was informed in advance of the planned uprising. On Capitol Hill, an unusual alliance of Republicans and Democrats criticized Bush for failing to order the U.S. military to assist the rebels to overthrow Gen. Manuel A. Noriega, Panama's de facto ruler.

The United States eventually may come to regret President Bush's decision to invade Panama, several specialists on American foreign policy predicted Thursday. For all the benefits of ousting strongman Manuel A. Noriega, these experts argue, the long-term consequences could also include more casualties from a protracted guerrilla war; expenses running into millions of dollars for a U.S. occupation force; loss of credibility in Latin America, and growing mistrust of how U.S.

Amid rumors that top-level American Panama Canal employees might be targeted as hostages, the Canal Commission has increased security for about two dozen managers, an official said in Panama City. "I have felt the need to provide certain security measures for some top managers as a result of rumors of threats of hostage-taking," Canal Administrator Dennis McAuliffe said. "I do not personally believe there is a real hostage threat here. But I feel that the perception of a threat is disruptive.

The Administration plans to ease economic sanctions against Panama in "hardship cases" involving American citizens and U.S. companies that might be hurt by the restrictions, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said Tuesday. Another Administration official, who requested anonymity, insisted that "this is not some major relaxation" of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act invoked by President Reagan less than three weeks ago, prohibiting all payments to Panama by U.S.