Panama raps GI exercises conducted with Honduras

Panama's military high command charged the United States violated the Panama Canal treaties by sending Panama-based American forces to Honduras on maneuvers.

A military communique denounced the participation of resident US troops and airplanes in an operation with Honduran troops. It said under the 1979 agreements, US troops and weaponry stationed in Panama were meant solely to defend the waterway.

The operation involves 30 US pilots ferrying 1,000 Honduran troops from a central section of the country to the tense Miskito border region alongside Nicaragua.