Panama incident `serious' // U.S. envoy rejects order to stop his limo

PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) A Panamanian military vehicle tried tostop the chauffeur-driven limousine of U.S. Ambassador Arthur Davison Sunday, but the diplomat continued on to his residence, the U.S.Embassy said.

The United States, which has been trying to force Gen. ManuelAntonio Noriega to resign as Panama's leader, described the attemptto stop the ambassador's car as a "serious" incident.

Noriega commands the 15,000-member Defense Forces and is thepower behind the civilian government. He is under indictment on drugcharges by a federal grand jury in Florida and has rejected U.S.demands that he step down.

Terence Kneebone, a U.S. Embassy spokesman, said Davis hadvisited the Vatican ambassador and was leaving in his car when amilitary "vehicle began following immediately, picking them up rightoutside the gate."

"It followed them down Balboa Avenue, then tried to stop themwith lights and sirens," Kneebone said. "The ambassador's driver, inaccordance with instructions, did not stop. The ambassador wasdriven to his residence, and the other vehicle followed all the way."

Kneebone added, "We consider this serious," and said that wouldbe the embassy's only characterization of the incident.

Kneebone said Davis had called on the papal nuncio, MonsignorJose Sebastian Laboa, to pay his respects on Easter. The spokesmannoted that the papal ambassador is dean of the diplomatic corps inPanama.

The distance between Laboa's residence and the Americanambassador's home is about two miles.

Sunday's edition of the military-run newspaper La Republicacarried a front-page picture of Davis with a caption that said he didnot venture from his residence unless he was "armed to the teeth."

A brief article accused the ambassador of "exaggerating" anypossible threat to his personal security and said he suffered fromeither "a persecution complex" or "guilty conscience."

The incident came only three days after the Panamaniangovernment said the Defense Forces would not do anything to provokean excuse for a U.S. invasion.

"Aware of the overwhelming power threatening it, the Republic ofPanama . . . will not provide the foundation for fabrication of acharge of aggression that could pretend to justify the launching ofacts of war," the government said.

The United States has more than 10,000 military personnel inPanama under the Panamanian-based U.S. Southern Command. The Reaganadministration said Friday it would sent 1,300 additional soldiersand Marines to Panama this week to reinforce security for Americansand U.S. facilities in the country.

In a televised mass, Monsignor Marcos A. McGrath, the RomanCatholic archbishop of Panama City, said, "This Sunday . . . isparticularly dramatic for us. . . .

"In these final days of Holy Week, half of Panama has beenfasting because it has no food, and the other half has been fastingin sympathy with them."

The country's economy has foundered since March 4, when Noriegaclosed banks to prevent a run on cash made scarce by U.S. sanctions.The economic chaos was aggravated by a two-week-old general strikethat closed down an estimated 90 percent of the country's businessand industry.

Protesters have taken to the streets, and Noriega's troops haveresponded with force.

The strike eased late last week, with some groceries andpharmacies opening, reportedly under government pressure. Oppositionleaders have not formally called off the strike and were to meetSunday and today to discuss whether to continue it.