Gunmen opened fire on a barricade manned by anti-government protesters, killing a student, amid stalled efforts to revive peace negotiations between the government and opposition.
Gunmen opened fire on a barricade manned by anti-government protesters, killing a student, amid stalled efforts to revive peace negotiations between the government and opposition.
Roman Catholic bishops came away from a meeting late Thursday with President Daniel Ortega without a formal plan to return to the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights said 19-year-old student Cesar Chavarria became the 135th person to die in anti-government protests that have flared since April 18.
A student leader said Chavarria was killed and another student was wounded overnight Thursday to Friday when armed men in vans opened fire on a barricade near the National Autonomous University in Managua.
State broadcaster Radio Nicaragua was targeted in a firebomb attack early Friday, the official government website reported, charging that the arson was « organized and paid for by the right ».
The Nicaraguan Episcopal Conference (CEN) said the bishops had presented « the pain and anguish of people who have suffered in recent weeks » during a « frank and sincere meeting » with Ortega.
It did not elaborate on the details of the bishops’ proposal, but said it « reflects the feelings of many sectors of Nicaraguan society » and was awaiting a reaction from Ortega.
Silvio Jose Baez, the auxiliary bishop of Managua, said Ortega « asked us for a period of reflection to give us an answer, which we asked he give us in writing » — after which they will consider the feasibility of renewed negotiations.
Bishops had called off the talks last week after 16 people were killed in a crackdown by security forces on a protest led by mothers of victims of the unrest.
Costa Rica announced Friday it would provide visas to relatives of diplomats accredited in Nicaragua who want to leave.
« We have decided to provide them with diplomatic courtesy visas so that, as a result of the crisis situation in Nicaragua, the relatives of the diplomats can come » to Costa Rica, said Foreign Minister Epsy Campbell.
