Nicaragua accuses US of destabilising government

Nicaragua lambasted the US government and the head of the Organisation of American States, accusing both of trying to destabilise President Daniel Ortega’s government by criticising local elections.

Both the US State Department and OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza have expressed concern over opposition allegations of fraud in the November 9 municipal elections. They also lamented that international observers weren’t allowed to be present during voting.

Appearing before the OAS permanent council in Washington, Nicaraguan OAS Ambassador Denis Moncada said Mr Insulza overstepped his authority when weighing in on the dispute.

“It is unheard of that the secretary-general would usurp the state’s authority, when neither the government nor the people of Nicaragua have given him that authority,” he said.

He went on to say that Mr Insulza had joined the US campaign to “delegitimise Nicaragua’s municipal elections and destabilise President Ortega’s government.”

He asked the council to call on the US government to “cease its meddling in Nicaraguan affairs”.

The US ambassador to the OAS, Hector Morales, responded by saying the region can’t ignore antidemocratic practices.