AP - Noriega mansion fails to draw bids

Noriega mansion fails to draw bids

PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) _ No one wants to buy two crumbling mansions that once belonged to former strongman Manuel Noriega.

Panama's government says it received no bidders for the two properties, valued at $6.1 million. It is unclear why no one registered to take part in Thursday's auction.

The failed auction was a surprise given that Panama is in the midst of a real estate boom.

The sale represented the first time Panama's government had received permission to put Noriega's homes on the auction block since he was ousted by the 1989 U.S.-led invasion.

Noriega's family has spent years trying to recover the homes.

Noriega was convicted of drug racketeering in a Miami federal court. He served his sentence and is fighting extradition to France.