Nicaragua Ponders Trashing More Missiles
The leadership of the Nicaraguan National Assembly accepted to postpone the controversial discussion Wednesday on whether to destroy the SAM-7 portable antiaircraft missiles now in the hands of the Nicaraguan Army.

Liberal deputy and first secretary of the unicameral Legislature, Wilfredo Navarro, told local press.

According to the liberal deputy, while there is no reasonable balance of forces in Central America, it is not possible for Nicaragua to get rid of its ground-to-air rocket arsenal made in the former Soviet Union.

Navarro arrived at this conclusion after yesterday s meeting between the Assembly leadership and Army chief Gen. Omar Hallesleven, who explained technical armaments issues but said the Armed Forces would comply with the decision of the civil authorities.

Destruction of the missiles has been demanded for several years by Washington, on the pretext they could fall into the hands of terrorists.

Ex President Enrique Bolaños eliminated a great number of them, but President Daniel Ortega refuses to get rid of the defense weapons, while neighboring countries, such as Honduras, have a combat air force.