Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega has been re-elected, setting the stage for his third consecutive term - but this time accompanied by his wife as vice president.

Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist revolutionary who fought US-backed insurgents in the 1980s, has won presidential elections in Nicaragua.

DANIEL Ortega, a former Marxist revolutionary and US Cold War enemy, headed toward a dramatic return to power in Nicaragua’s presidential election, early results showed yesterday.

Leftist Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega had a strong lead over four other candidates after a Nicaragua election that could return the leftist to power 16 years after a US-backed rebellion helped force him from office.

Daniel Ortega has told Nicaraguans he is not the same revolutionary the US once tried to overthrow.