More opposition leaders arrested in widening Nicaragua crackdown

Critics accuse President Daniel Ortega of cracking down on opponents ahead of elections set for later this year.

More prominent opposition leaders have been arrested in Nicaragua, as concerns grow over what observers have described as a crackdown on President Daniel Ortega’s opponents ahead of elections set for later this year. Police on Sunday arrested Ortega critic Suyen Barahona, leader of the left-wing opposition Unamos party, after three other party officials were arrested by police over the weekend. Barahona is among nearly a dozen opposition leaders as well as presidential hopefuls who this month have been detained or disqualified from running in the presidential contest, which will be held in November.