US envoy defiant on leaving Nicaragua [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

US envoy defiant on leaving Nicaragua
24 mins ago

http://d.yimg.com.nyud.net:8090/a/p/afp/20091101/capt.photo_1257107263147-1-0.jpg

The US ambassador to Nicaragua, Robert Callahan (L), is
escorted by riot police as he leaves a public university
in Managua, while supporters of Nicaraguan President
Daniel Ortega stage demonstrations against him, on October
30. Callahan said on Sunday he plans to stay put in the
Central American nation despite violent protests demanding
that he go home.
(AFP/File/Isidro Hernandez)

MANAGUA (AFP) – The US ambassador to Nicaragua said on Sunday he plans to stay put in the Central American nation despite violent protests demanding that he go home for allegedly meddling in domestic politics.

"I am staying here to work as US ambassador (as) we have a strong and constant commitment to the Nicaraguan people," Ambassador Robert Callahan told local media.

"My main job is maintaining good relations with Nicaragua and I will do everything in my power to do so," he added.

Thousands of Nicaraguans pelted the US embassy with rocks and home-made explosives last week, demanding the ambassador be expelled for criticizing a ruling allowing leftist President Daniel Ortega to seek re-election indefinitely.

Ortega's administration issued a statement calling Callahan's comments an "inadmissible" interference in Nicaragua's internal affairs, but stopped short of asking for his removal.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091101/pl_afp/nicaraguapoliticsus