Violent Anti-Government Clashes Spread In Nicaragua

Daily Mail/AFP: Masked protesters wield homemade mortars as at least two people are killed and 50 wounded in violent anti-government clashes in Nicaragua

* The protests in Nicaragua began last month and were triggered by attempt to reform social security system
* Latest clashes took place in the city of Leon and saw fighting between pro and anti government forces
* One man was shot dead when government-linked groups tried to clear a barricade from main road into city
* The other dead man belonged to the pro-government group and was struck by a homemade mortar bomb

At least two people were killed and 50 wounded in clashes between protesters wielding homemade weapons and the police.

Since protests began last month, 76 people have been killed and more than 800 wounded, according to a preliminary report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, submitted before Wednesday's clashes.

Initially triggered by now-aborted reforms to the near-bankrupt social security system, the unrest broadened into a rejection by many Nicaraguans of President Daniel Ortega, who is seen as autocratic.

Read more ....

Update #1: New Protests, Blockades In Nicaragua After Talks Suspended (Today Nicaragua)
Update #2: Fed up: Nicaragua’s uprising (Alexander Villegas, Tico Times)
Update #3: Children of the Revolution: How the Sandinistas lost the youth of Nicaragua. (Cinthia Membreño, Slate)

WNU Editor: Talks between the government and the opposition groups have broken down .... Cardinal: Nicaragua talks at impasse, suspended indefinitely (FOX News/AP). Here is an easy prediction .... the unrest is going to get worse. On a side note .... this is a big story .... but for some reason (with the exception of the AFP) .... the main stream media and the wire services are ignoring this story.