Argentina, Mexico withdraw envoys over Nicaragua crackdown

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s government has arrested 17 opposition figures this month, including five presidential hopefuls.

Mexico and Argentina have recalled their ambassadors to Nicaragua for consultations in response to President Daniel Ortega’s mounting crackdown on the opposition, a joint statement said on Monday. Both countries want to consult their ambassadors about “the worrisome political-legal actions taken by the Nicaraguan government in recent days that have put at risk the well-being and freedom of various opposition figures [including presidential pre-candidates], activists and Nicaraguan businessmen,” their foreign ministries said. They want to promote a dialogue with Ortega’s government. Argentina and Mexico will continue to press for “the full respect and promotion of human rights” as well as civil and political liberties, the statement said.