PANAMA ANTIDRUG CENTER

PANAMA CITY, Panama Despite a series of street protests, months of
delicate negotiations have led to a plan for a U.S.led antidrug center on
an American military base here.

The center intended to monitor drug smuggling throughout Latin America
after the United States turns over its bases to Panama at the end of 1999
has been a hotly contested topic in Panama.

Although most Panamanians support the center, some have protested what they
see as the United States going back on its word to pull its soldiers out of
the country.