Pedro Miguel Gonzalez Pinzon was elected president of Panama's congress September 1, even though he is wanted in the U.S. in the June 1992 slaying of U.S. Army Sgt. Zak Hernandez Laporte and attempted murder of Sgt. Ronald Marshall outside Panama City. Gonzalez Pinzon has denied any involvement and was acquitted in a trial in Panama 10 years ago.

On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy released a letter in which Sen. Max Baucus, a Democrat from Montana, called the issue "a serious obstacle to consideration in the U.S. Congress" of a free-trade deal between the two countries.

"Our members are watchful and will take into account this development," Baucus wrote.
Visiting Panama the same day, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez also made an apparent reference to Gonzalez Pinzon's post, saying "a problem has arisen which did not exist before and which needs to be resolved."

Gutierrez said he would raise the issue when he meets with Panamanian President Martin Torrijos.
Gonzalez Pinzon said Panama should not bow to U.S. pressure.