NICARAGUA: Former Cold War fighter Daniel Ortega, starts second consecutive term as president

Record ID: 538516

  • Title: NICARAGUA: Former Cold War fighter Daniel Ortega, starts second consecutive term as president
  • Date: 12th January 2012
  • Summary: MANAGUA, NICARAGUA (JANUARY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY**) GENERAL VIEW OF REPORTERS COVERING CEREMONY DANIEL ORTEGA BEING SWORN IN GUESTS WATCHING CEREMONY
  • Embargoed: 27th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nicaragua, Nicaragua
  • Country: Nicaragua
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9VZEAMCU1V7UPEQLEDCTJXN61
  • Story Text: Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega on Tuesday (January 10) urged Israel to destroy its nuclear weapons to foster peace in the Middle East as he hosted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is touring Latin America.
    Speaking in a ceremony where he was sworn in for a second consecutive term in office, Ortega attacked the U.S. "occupation" of Afghanistan and Iraq, condemned the killing of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and offered a brief valediction to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
    Ortega - flanked by his close ally, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez - defended Iran's stated intention to develop atomic energy for peaceful ends, an explanation Western powers say is a cover for a nuclear weapons program.
    "Think about it! To those who have nuclear weapons, there is no one who calls upon them because they do so. On the contrary, to those who are developing nuclear energy for peaceful means, these are the ones who are blamed and threaten because they do so," the former Marxist guerrilla said.
    Ortega, whose speech moved swiftly from one topic to the next, backed by a musical accompaniment of strummed guitars and chanting peppered with rapped shouts, continued to verbally attacked the U.S. and Israel from time to time and continued to defended Iran's stated intention to develop atomic power.
    "We both are revolutionary twins. Iran and Nicaragua, we both triumph the same year, 1979. There have been many interpretations about the visit of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Latin America. They don't really get it how necessary it is to find an authentic path to peace," said Ortega.
    Ortega, 66, suspended diplomatic ties with Israel in 2010 in protest after Israeli commandos staged a deadly raid on a flotilla trying to break a blockade of Gaza. Israel, which Ahmadinejad once said should be wiped off the map, is believed to have nuclear weapons. But it has never formally admitted to possessing them.
    Ahmadinejad is visiting leftist leaders in Latin America known for their antagonism to the United States. His visit comes after the Islamic Republic fanned tensions with western powers by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil shipping lane, in response to possible new sanctions over its nuclear plans.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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