Thousands protest Ortega's 'farce' re-election in Nicaragua

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December 2, 2016 1:36 AM

Thousands of Nicaraguans marched in their capital on Thursday to protest President Daniel Ortega's re-election last month, calling it an "electoral farce."

An activist waves a national flag during a march against the construction of the Interoceanic Grand Canal and denouncing what they claim to be electoral fraud in the November 6 elections Nicaragua, in Managua on December 1, 2016

Wearing the blue and white colors of the national flag, the demonstrators headed to the hotel where the visiting secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, was staying, close to the Supreme Electoral Council's (CSE) headquarters.

"Democracy yes, dictatorship no!" the protesters yelled, watched by a large number of riot police. No violent incidents were seen.

Protest leaders said the government had prevented buses carrying more demonstrators from making it to the capital.

The protest was organized by opposition groups sidelined by the CSE or courts in the run-up to the November 6 legislative and presidential elections.

Some of the demonstrators were also opposing a government plan to build a cross-country canal to rival Panama's, which would remove many rural dwellers from their land.

A 71-year-old former guerrilla, Ortega handily won a third-straight term with 72.5 percent of the vote. His running mate was his wife, Rosario Murillo, who will become vice president when his new mandate begins next month.

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