Panama to investigate rights abuses

The Panamanian president, Mireya Moscoso, has announced the creation of a panel to investigate crimes committed while military governments were in power between 1968 and 1989.

Mrs Moscoso made the announcement as she visited a clandestine cemetery found in an army barracks in the north-east.

The remains of four people have been unearthed there since the beginning of the year. These include the body of Heliodoro Portugal, a left-wing leader who disappeared in 1971 after being arrested by the political police force led by General Manuel Noriega -- who went on to become military leader. Human rights groups say at least seventy political opponents disappeared during military rule.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service