Manuel Noriega's Call of Duty lawsuit is "absurd" says former mayor of New York

Activision is seeking to dismiss Manuel Noriega's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 lawsuit, and has drafted in former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani to fight the case.

Noriega filed the lawsuit earlier this year claiming his image and likeness were being used to increase the popularity of Call of Duty.

But calling the lawsuit "absurd" this morning, Giuliani issued strong words against Noriega - currently serving 20 years for drug trafficking and racketeering - and stated that Activision has a right to use his likeness in Black Ops 2.

"I'm not interested in giving handouts to a convicted murderer and drug smuggler like Manuel Noriega who is demanding money from Activision and its popular Call of Duty franchise for simply exercising its right to free speech," he said.

"Noriega's attack on the rights of Call of Duty comes as no surprise considering he's a lawless tyrant who trampled over the rights of his own people."

Activision is filing a motion to dismiss the case this morning on the grounds that historical figures can be depicted in fictional work.