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| US sanctions on Nicaragua's Vice-President Rosario Murillo | US sanctions on Nicaragua's Vice-President Rosario Murillo |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US has imposed sanctions on 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. | 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 Ms 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. | 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. |