Nicaragua: Thousands riot after Nicaragua local elections

SomaliNet) After the conservative opposition and the ruling Sandinistas both declared themselves winners of the local elections, mass rioting broke out in the Nicaraguan capital Managua.

Witnesses say thousands of supporters from the two parties attacked each other with clubs and stones.

Shots were reportedly fired. Several people were injured in the violence and some sources even say there were fatalities. During the election earlier today, two people were injured in violent incidents and more than 30 people were arrested.

Preliminary election results put left-wing President Ortega's ruling party in the lead. A number of sources spoke of electoral fraud, but these reports are impossible to verify, as the Nicaraguan government decided not to admit observers.

The local elections are seen as a test of Mr Ortega's popularity, who, according to critics, is becoming increasingly authoritarian.-RNW
Somalinet

According to reports from a Nica friend of mine, four people were killed by gunfire