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US Authorizes Departure of US Personnel From Nicaragua

by VOA News

   The State Department has ordered the departure of U.S. government
   family members and authorized the departure of U.S. personnel from
   Nicaragua, in the wake of recent deadly protests there.

   "Political rallies and demonstrations are occurring daily, often with
   little notice or predictability. Some protests result in injuries and
   deaths," said an updated travel advisory issued by the State
   Department. "Demonstrations typically elicit a strong response that has
   in the past included includes the use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber
   bullets, and live ammunition against participants and occasionally have
   devolved into looting, vandalism, and acts of arson."

   Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's announcement last week of changes
   to the country's pension plan sparked days of deadly protests. On
   Sunday, he said he has scrapped those plans.

   The president said the plan to increase worker contributions to social
   security and to lower pensions is being "revoked, cancelled, put
   aside." He added, "We cannot allow chaos, crime and looting."

   Officials said Friday at least ten people had died in the protests.

   Some rights groups estimate the death toll since Wednesday, when the
   demonstrations began, is as high as 25, including a journalist.

   Late Saturday, journalist Angel Gahona was covering the protests live
   on Facebook from Bluefields, a town on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast,
   when he was shot and killed. In the footage that has circulated widely
   on social media, gunfire is heard, Gahona falls down and several voices
   call out to him.

   President Ortega is a former guerilla soldier. His vice president is
   his wife Rosario Murillo.

   A court decision allowed Ortega to run for re-election in 2011, even
   though the country had a one-term limit. Three years after that, his
   leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party, gained
   enough support in congress for a constitutional amendment to allow
   unlimited presidential terms.
   VOA's Cindy Saine contributed to this report.