Students Burn Buses in Nicaragua
Two buses of the urban transportation service were set afire Wednesday in different sectors of the Nicaraguan capital, during university students’ protests against the rise in transportation costs.

The first bus was intercepted by hooded students near Agrarian National University, not far from Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport, and the driver and passengers were made to disembark before the bus was set afire, local television reported.

The other vehicle was burned some minutes later in south Managua, in front of the National Autonomous University with the same modus operandi.

Transportation workers attribute the price increase (14 to 17 cents) to government delay in approving a subsidy to mitigate the high cost of fuel.

Union leader Rafael Quinto called on demonstrators to address their demands to the National Assembly, the Executive and oil transnationals.

According to transport workers, the approval of the two million dollar subsidy expected to be passed by the Legislature will not contribute to reduce ticket prices as that money will barely serve to pay February and March debts.