Shootout, fire shatter Nicaraguan truce

MANAGUA Eight people died yesterday in a shootout and fire that shattered a truce struck hours earlier between President Daniel Ortega and protesters, and civic leaders condemned the violence while vowing to continue talks with the Government.

Nicaragua’s crisis, the country’s bloodiest confrontations since a civil war ended in 1990, has spanned two months and claimed at least 170 lives. The unrest in the morning came hours after Ortega and protesters struck an agreement to end hostilities, clear roadblocks and allow a foreign inquiry.

Michael Healy, president of the agriculture producers union, blamed the Government and law enforcement for the deaths of six people, including two children, as flames consumed their house in Managua after a confrontation with police. Two others died in the shootout.

‘‘We were going to sleep in peace and tranquillity. And what’s sad was waking up to the death of this family, how they were burned,’’ Healy said at the conclusion of talks with the Government, moderated by the Catholic church.

‘‘The Government wants us leave this table, and we’re not going to let that happen . . . it’s the only way to put an end to this,’’ he added.

The dialogue proceeded as scheduled and the Government and civic leaders agreed to set up working groups to debate proposals including democratic reforms, mediators said in a statement. Talks will resume today.

Responding to the unexpected flareup, the national police in a statement attributed the morning’s gunfire to protesters, and said two men had died.

Local media reported that police and proOrtega masked gunmen had fired at protesters guarding the roadblocks.

Police also said that firefighters battling the blaze came under attack from masked ‘‘delinquents,’’ and that they would investigate the cause of the fire.

The Government did not reply to a request for comment on the reports. — Reuters