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US sanctions on Nicaragua's Vice-President Rosario Murillo | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The US has imposed sanctions against Nicaragua's Vice-President Rosario Murillo, the wife of President Daniel Ortega, accusing her of corruption and serious human rights abuses. | The US has imposed sanctions against Nicaragua's Vice-President Rosario Murillo, the wife of President Daniel Ortega, accusing her of corruption and serious human rights abuses. |
She is believed to have held influence over a youth organisation that the US says engaged in extra-judicial killings, torture and kidnapping. | She is believed to have held influence over a youth organisation that the US says engaged in extra-judicial killings, torture and kidnapping. |
Sanctions were also imposed on the presidential couple's security adviser. | |
Ms Murillo has ruled Nicaragua jointly with Mr Ortega for more than a decade. | Ms Murillo has ruled Nicaragua jointly with Mr Ortega for more than a decade. |
She is accused of controlling the police and the youth wing of the governing Sandinista Liberation Front. | She is accused of controlling the police and the youth wing of the governing Sandinista Liberation Front. |
On Tuesday, the US Treasury said it was using a new executive order issued by US President Donald Trump to punish Murillo, accusing her of undermining Nicaragua's democracy. | On Tuesday, the US Treasury said it was using a new executive order issued by US President Donald Trump to punish Murillo, accusing her of undermining Nicaragua's democracy. |
Meanwhile her aide - and the president's security adviser - Néstor Moncada Lau was accused of carrying out orders by paying armed groups to attack protestors during months of anti-government disturbances earlier this year. | |
The sanctions will ban US individuals, banks and other entities from carrying out transactions with the pair, who will also have any assets that fall under US jurisdiction frozen. | The sanctions will ban US individuals, banks and other entities from carrying out transactions with the pair, who will also have any assets that fall under US jurisdiction frozen. |
Nicaragua has been through huge upheaval this year. In April, anti-government protesters demanded that the socialist president, Mr Ortega, step down over unpopular pension reforms. | Nicaragua has been through huge upheaval this year. In April, anti-government protesters demanded that the socialist president, Mr Ortega, step down over unpopular pension reforms. |
However, he refused to negotiate and instead sent in the security forces. | However, he refused to negotiate and instead sent in the security forces. |
Hundreds were then killed in the space of weeks. | Hundreds were then killed in the space of weeks. |
Earlier this month, opposition activist Félix Maradiaga told the BBC that human rights in Nicaragua were at the "most severe crisis in generations". | Earlier this month, opposition activist Félix Maradiaga told the BBC that human rights in Nicaragua were at the "most severe crisis in generations". |
Mr Maradiaga was forced to flee his country in July after receiving death threats. | Mr Maradiaga was forced to flee his country in July after receiving death threats. |