Ortega Wants Normal Ties with US
Nicaraguan president-elect Daniel Ortega has stressed he wants respectful relations with all nations, including the US, after taking office on January 10.

Thursday at a news conference upon his arrival from a Central American tour, Ortega assured that Washington has to learn to cohabitate with Latin American people and governments regardless of ideology.

The Sandinista leader was fiercely attacked during the electoral campaign by the local rightwing and the US, both determined to impede his win.

As in previous elections, the White House sent envoys to the Central American country to intimidate the electorate with an eventual rupture of bilateral relations and the cut of remittances if they elected Ortega, who finally triumphed with 38 percent of the votes.

The dignitary-elect promised that his government will respect the free trade agreement signed between Managua and Washington despite considering it unsatisfactory, but announced he will seek new markets in South America, the Caribbean and the European Union.