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CENTRAL AMERICA |
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Thousands March in Rival Nicaraguan Rallies
MANAGUA - Thousands of pro- and
anti-government protesters took to the
streets of Nicaragua's capital over the
possible re-election of Nicaraguan President
Daniel Ortega.
At least 40,000 anti-government
demonstrators rallied Saturday in one area
of Managua, marching against what they
called Mr. Ortega's attempt to set up a
dictatorship.
The rally marked the anniversary of last
year's municipal elections. Opposition
supporters say President Ortega's Sandinista
National Liberation Front won the elections
by fraud.
In another part of the capital, Sandinista
party supporters held a separate rally to
show their continued support of President
Ortega.
Nicaraguan police stepped up security, but
there were no reports of clashes between the
two groups.
The country's supreme court ruled last month
that Mr. Ortega could run in the 2011
presidential election, striking down a
constitutional prohibition on a president
running for a second consecutive term.
Nicaragua currently allows its presidents to
serve two non-consecutive five-year terms.
Mr. Ortega served his first term as
president starting in 1985. He was defeated
for re-election in 1990, but began serving a
second term in 2007 after winning a second
term in national elections.
President Ortega is one of several Latin
American leaders who have sought the
authority to change their constitutions to
stay in power. |
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Nicaragua Protests |
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