NICARAGUA POLICE END CHURCH SIEGE AFTER DAY OF TERROR IN MASAYA

POLICE in Nicaragua have ended the siege of a church where opposition supporters had sought refuge after being attacked by riot police and pro-government militias.

Doctors have been allowed to treat the injured inside the church in the city of Masaya. Two people have died.

Some 30 people who were inside the church were released after the local Catholic Church intervened.

More than 100 people have been killed in Nicaragua in six weeks of violence.

Monsignor Silvio José Báez, the auxiliary bishop of Managua, praised the local priest in Masaya, Edwing Roman, and a human rights lawyer and campaigner, Álvaro Leiva, for their efforts in negotiating with the authorities.

He urged President Daniel Ortega to end the crackdown on protests against his government.

Monsignor Báez earlier took to social media to warn people to stay indoors, because there were reports of snipers on the streets of Masaya. “The priests in Masaya have told me that the San Miguel parish is surrounded by anti-riot police,” he wrote on Twitter.

“There are injured and detained people inside. No more repression in Masaya!” Masaya, some 20km (12 miles) south of Managua, was one of several cities where opposition activists clashed with police on Saturday.

The unrest in Nicaragua was triggered by cuts to pensions and social security.

Hours after the measure was signed into law by Mr Ortega in April, pensioners and students took to the streets.

Human rights groups say the police have acted with brutality and many people were killed in the following days. Most of the victims were university students.

Mr Ortega revoked the legislation but by then he himself had become the focus of the protests.

The opposition and young activists are demanding his resignation.