U.S. Said to Plan Moving Noriega to Another Prison

MIAMI — Federal officials plan to move Manuel A. Noriega to a more secure prison out of state, according to a published report, but two of the deposed dictator’s attorneys said Monday that they have no knowledge of a move.

The New York Times, quoting an anonymous person involved in the planned move, reported in Tuesday’s editions that the likely site for Noriega’s future detainment is the federal penitentiary in Atlanta.

Noriega is in a special holding cell deep within the downtown U.S. courthouse here, said sources who spoke on condition they not be identified. U.S. marshals and even Noriega’s attorneys refuse to say where he is.

Steven Kollins, one of Noriega’s attorneys, told the Associated Press on Monday night: “Up until now, they (U.S. marshals) have not intimated in any way that they’re going to remove him (from Miami). However, they have told us, frankly, that they may have to move him from the place where he is being held now to a more suitable place for their security purposes.”