Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega will be extradited to his homeland in the next few weeks, the French Justice Ministry said.

Panama's government said the long-awaited extradition of former dictator Manuel Noriega is one step closer to reality after a French court said it received US approval to send Noriega home to face a 20-year prison sentence here.

Panama is again seeking the extradition of former dictator Manuel Noriega from France, this time for his role in the killing of the leader of an attempted military coup in 1989.