Panama

The murmurs of surprise and displeasure last August that greeted Bob Bradley's four-year contract extension to remain as coach of the U.S. soccer team are likely to grow louder and more vitriolic after Bradley's team stumbled to a historic 2-1 Gold Cup loss to Panama on Saturday at Tampa. Fla. First-half goals by Luis Tejada and Gabriel Gomez sparked the Central Americans to their first victory against the U.S., which lost in group play in the Gold Cup for the first time. The win assures Panama of a berth in the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive tournament.

With only one regular in the starting lineup, the United States rallied past Panama into the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Kenny Cooper converted a penalty kick midway through overtime in the 105th minute, giving the two-time defending champions a 2-1 victory at Philadelphia and a semifinal berth against Honduras. "It was ideal to finish it off in regulation, but it took 30 extra minutes and that still says something about this group," U.S. Coach Bob Bradley said.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt surprised fans in Panama City on Friday, visiting a souvenir shop, a colonial neighborhood and the Panama Canal, where one resident yelled, "Are you Brad Pitt?" The actor smiled and said: "Sometimes." The Hollywood couple flew to Panama on Thursday, taking a side trip from their holiday stay in Costa Rica. Besides touring the capital, where they shopped for souvenirs and walked around a colonial neighborhood, Pitt and Jolie visited a former U.S.

THESE men from the Kuna tribe on the San Blas Islands of Panama entertained passengers from the small Pacific Explorer cruise ship, including Shirley and Robert Gapper, of West Covina. Shirley took this shot with her Canon G2. "I liked it because of the brilliant color of those yellow shirts," said the retired music teacher, adding that the performance was "so synchronized, it was almost unreal."

Cuba and Panama restored diplomatic ties Saturday, one year after they were severed when Panama's previous president pardoned four Cuban exiles accused of trying to assassinate President Fidel Castro. Castro and Panamanian President Martin Torrijos looked on as a document was signed in Havana declaring normalized relations "inspired by the spirit of fraternity that has always linked these two countries."

An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale shook parts of Panama on Monday, but no damage or injuries were immediately reported, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The government newspaper today claimed that the United States bribed the Organization of American States to pass a resolution calling for a transfer of power in Panama. Panama's de facto ruler, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, said in a radio interview that Washington's desire to get rid of him is racially motivated. "Panama asks for respect. It asks for freedom. For its sovereignty. The time of empires has ended. Why does the United States want an empire in Panama? Why? This is our only answer: because we are black," the general told WBAI radio in New York in a telephone interview from Panama.

The head of the Organization of American States arrived in Panama today to face a hostile government, but opponents of military leader Manuel Antonio Noriega voiced hope the OAS could help resolve the crisis. OAS Secretary General Joao Baena Soares said on his arrival at Panama's international airport that his delegation will meet with government and opposition leaders to seek a solution to the crisis over Noriega's annulment of May 7 general elections which the opposition claimed to have won. He said they will report back to the OAS in Washington on June 6.

Salsa king Ruben Blades was named Panama's tourism minister. Blades, who failed in a presidential bid a decade ago, is a friend of President-elect Martin Torrijos and was a driving force in his political campaign. "I'm not thinking about what I am going to do in five years or if I am going to return to doing shows," said the singer and actor. "I'm just thinking that Panama is going to have much stronger tourism than now."

President Bush today named a 14-member observer panel to monitor Panama's elections this Sunday, despite statements by Panamanian officials that such a team would not be welcome. The group, headed by Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), will leave Saturday and fly into the U.S. Howard Air Force Base, thereby avoiding Panama's requirement for entrance visas, White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said. The Administration has predicted that the elections will be blatantly fraudulent.