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Nicaragua arrests two more possible challengers to Daniel Ortega Nicaragua government detains possible challengers to Ortega
(about 2 hours later)
Felix Maradiaga spoke to reporters outside the public prosecutor's office prior to his arrest Félix Maradiaga spoke to reporters outside the public prosecutor's office prior to his arrest
Authorities in Nicaragua have arrested two more potential presidential challengers to veteran leader Daniel Ortega in elections later this year. Four opposition figures have been arrested in Nicaragua in what government critics have called a hunt for critics of President Daniel Ortega.
Felix Maradiaga and Juan Sebastián Chamorro have been accused of terrorism and plotting against Nicaragua's sovereignty and independence. Two of those detained on Tuesday are potential candidates in the election in November, in which Mr Ortega is expected to run for a fifth term.
They were held under a controversial new security law passed in December by Mr Ortega's government. Their arrests bring the total of presidential hopefuls in detention to four.
Two other opposition leaders have been arrested in recent days.
The US branded Mr Ortega "a dictator" following Tuesday's arrests.The US branded Mr Ortega "a dictator" following Tuesday's arrests.
Last week, opposition leader Cristiana Chamorro was placed under house arrest for alleged money laundering, which she denies.
And on Saturday another opposition figure, Arturo Cruz, was detained at Managua airport as he arrived from the US.
President Ortega, 75, is seeking a fourth consecutive term in November's election.
Why speaking out in Nicaragua is getting toughWhy speaking out in Nicaragua is getting tough
Nicaragua opposition figure put under house arrestNicaragua opposition figure put under house arrest
Nicaragua country profileNicaragua country profile
On Tuesday, Mr Maradiaga, 44, was summoned to the public prosecutor's office in Managua and after being questioned he left the building, saying: "I am going to stay in the running for the presidential candidacy." Who's been detained?
According to reports, police then stopped him and his lawyer in their car. An opposition spokesman said Mr Maradiaga had been beaten by police during the arrest and that his whereabouts were unknown. In a space of 12 hours on Tuesday, the following opposition figures were arrested:
Police escorted Felix Maradiaga's car after he was questioned at the public prosecutor's office Félix Maradiaga, academic and political activist who was planning to run as an opposition candidate in the presidential election
Shortly afterwards, Juan Sebastián Chamorro - a cousin of Cristiana Chamorro - was detained at his home outside Managua. Juan Sebastián Chamorro, economist and presidential hopeful
Separate police statements said the arrests were carried out for the same reasons - for "carrying out acts that undermine independence, sovereignty, and self-determination, inciting foreign interference in internal affairs, and calling for military interventions". José Adán Aguerri, economist and head of the Committee on Economic Integration
Violeta Granera, sociologist and opposition activist
Two more presidential hopefuls - former ambassador Arturo Cruz and Cristiana Chamorro - were detained in the past week.
Cristiana Chamorro is under house arrest, her cousin Juan Sebastián Chamorro is also being held
Ms Chamorro was charged with money laundering days after announcing that she would seek to become the presidential candidate for the opposition Citizen's Alliance.
She is seen by many in the opposition as their best hope of defeating Mr Ortega at the ballot box. Her mother Violeta Chamorro beat him in the 1990 presidential poll.
Ms Chamorro and Ms Granera are under house arrest, while Mr Chamorro and Mr Aguerri are in police detention.
A lawyer for Mr Maradiaga said his client was being held at an undisclosed location and had been badly beaten as he was taken into custody.
What are they accused of?
All of those detained, except for Cristiana Chamorro, have been accused of plotting against Nicaragua's sovereignty and independence and of organising terrorist acts with financial help from foreign powers.
They have been detained under a controversial treason law passed in December by Nicaragua's National Assembly, which is dominated by government allies.
What is the treason law?
Under the law, the government has the power to ban candidates from running for office if they are deemed to be traitors to Nicaragua. Anyone designated a traitor can be sent to prison for up to 15 years.
Juan Sebastián Chamorro was arrested at his home (file image)Juan Sebastián Chamorro was arrested at his home (file image)
The men are also accused of using "financing from foreign powers to carry out acts of terrorism and destabilisation". The government says the law aims to protect "the independence, the sovereignty and self-determination" of Nicaragua. It says the country is under threat from imperialist powers in the US and "coup-mongers" within Nicaragua who are determined to overthrow President Ortega.
But critics say the law is designed to stop opposition politicians from standing in the election.
What reaction has there been?
Tweeting after Mr Maradiaga's arrest, the top US diplomat for Latin America, Julie Chung, said the move "should resolve any remaining doubts about Ortega's credentials as a dictator".Tweeting after Mr Maradiaga's arrest, the top US diplomat for Latin America, Julie Chung, said the move "should resolve any remaining doubts about Ortega's credentials as a dictator".
Presidential candidate Felix Maradiaga’s arbitrary arrest- the 3rd Nicaraguan opposition leader arrested in 10 days - should resolve any remaining doubts about Ortega’s credentials as a dictator. The international community has no choice but to treat him as such.Presidential candidate Felix Maradiaga’s arbitrary arrest- the 3rd Nicaraguan opposition leader arrested in 10 days - should resolve any remaining doubts about Ortega’s credentials as a dictator. The international community has no choice but to treat him as such.
José Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, also took to Twitter, saying: "In the last 30 years, I've never seen anything like it. Multilateral efforts are urgently needed to stop Ortega."José Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, also took to Twitter, saying: "In the last 30 years, I've never seen anything like it. Multilateral efforts are urgently needed to stop Ortega."
The charges stem from a law passed in December that targets "those who ask for, celebrate and applaud the imposition of sanctions against the Nicaraguan state". Ms Chamorro's brother, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, told the BBC that Daniel Ortega was removing anyone who might challenge him. "This is just an attack against basic rights of political competition. In the past he had several hundreds of political prisoners as hostages. Now he has captured four aspiring presidential candidates as hostages."
Its backers say it is to defend Nicaragua's sovereignty against hostile foreign influence but critics say it is designed to stop opposition politicians from standing in the election. Police escorted Felix Maradiaga's car after he was questioned at the public prosecutor's office
Daniel Ortega: Nicaragua's veteran leader Shortly before being led away by police, Mr Maradiaga said he would not give up fighting. "What we have done is fight alongside the Nicaraguan people, and we will continue to do so," he said.
Mr Chamorro vowed to resist in a video he recorded before being summoned by the authorities: "This is a good fight, for good causes. Let's not let a criminal dictatorship take away our rights any longer.".
Who is Daniel Ortega?
President Ortega, 75, is expected to seek a fourth consecutive term in November's election. But opinion polls suggest his popularity has plummeted after the violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018 in which hundreds of people were killed.
The United States, the UK and the EU have imposed sanctions on Nicaraguan officials, whom they accuse of undermining democracy.
Nicaragua's veteran leader
Daniel Ortega in the 1980s and in 2018Daniel Ortega in the 1980s and in 2018
First took power in 1979 as the head of the leftist Sandinista rebel movement, ousting dictator Anastasio SomozaFirst took power in 1979 as the head of the leftist Sandinista rebel movement, ousting dictator Anastasio Somoza
Defeated in 1990 election after economic failures resulting from US sanctions and war against US-backed right-wing rebel groups known as Contras - then loses two more elections Defeated in 1990 election by Violeta Chamorro after economic failures resulting from US sanctions and war against US-backed right-wing rebel groups known as Contras - then loses two more elections
Accused of sexual abuse by own stepdaughter in 1998Accused of sexual abuse by own stepdaughter in 1998
Re-elected in 2006 after rebranding as Christian socialistRe-elected in 2006 after rebranding as Christian socialist
Allowed to stand for re-election in 2011 and 2016 following constitutional changes, and re-electedAllowed to stand for re-election in 2011 and 2016 following constitutional changes, and re-elected
Resisted calls to step down after violent suppression of uprising in 2018Resisted calls to step down after violent suppression of uprising in 2018
From revolutionary leader to opposition hate figureFrom revolutionary leader to opposition hate figure
The US and the European Union have both imposed sanctions against Mr Ortega and his government.
Arturo Cruz, 67, is being held in pre-trial detention while prosecutors investigate allegations of "provocation... and conspiracy to commit harm to national integrity".
Cristiana Chamorro is under house arrest
Cristiana Chamorro, 67, was placed under house arrest days after announcing that she would seek to become the presidential candidate for the opposition Citizen's Alliance.
She is seen by many in the opposition as their best hope of defeating Mr Ortega at the ballot box. Her mother Violeta Chamorro beat him in the 1990 presidential poll.
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