Manuel Noriega's trial opens in France

Manuel Noriega's money laundering trial opened in France on Monday, with the former Panamanian dictator's lawyers complaining about the prison where he is being held and the way he was extradited from the United States.

There also was confusion about the most basic biographical information: Noriega's age. 

Noriega, who spent 20 years in U.S. custody for drug trafficking, could be put back in jail for 10 years, if he's convicted as charged in France.

He started his testimony with a stumble Monday, when he was asked about discrepancies in his date of birth on different legal documents. 

Asked to state his birth date, Noriega initially said Feb. 11, 1936, then immediately corrected himself, saying he was born in 1934. He spoke through a translator.

The Paris trial is a new legal battle for the aging strongman, deposed after a 1989 U.S. invasion.

After serving 20 years in a Florida prison for drug racketeering and money laundering, he was extradited to Paris in April to face accusations that he tried to hide cocaine profits in French banks.

Panama is also seeking his extradition, bringing hope to his countrymen who want to see the former military strongman face justice at home for alleged torture and killings of opponents.

France already convicted Noriega and his wife in absentia in 1999 for laundering several million dollars in cocaine profits through three major French banks and using drug cash to invest in three posh Paris apartments on the Left Bank.

France agreed to give him a new trial if he was extradited. Noriega's wife, Felicidad Sieiro de Noriega, is living in Panama and faces no charges there.