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| Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega begins new presidential term | Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega begins new presidential term |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Daniel Ortega has been sworn in for a controversial third term as Nicaragua's president following his landslide victory in November's polls. | Daniel Ortega has been sworn in for a controversial third term as Nicaragua's president following his landslide victory in November's polls. |
| The former Sandinista guerrilla leader has promised "no dramatic changes" during his next five years in office. | The former Sandinista guerrilla leader has promised "no dramatic changes" during his next five years in office. |
| The main opposition party boycotted the ceremony in Managua, saying the poll was fraudulent and unconstitutional. | The main opposition party boycotted the ceremony in Managua, saying the poll was fraudulent and unconstitutional. |
| Mr Ortega's critics also accuse him of seeking to concentrate power in his hands and stay in office indefinitely. | Mr Ortega's critics also accuse him of seeking to concentrate power in his hands and stay in office indefinitely. |
| Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were among the leaders attending the inauguration in the capital. | Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were among the leaders attending the inauguration in the capital. |
| Help for poor | Help for poor |
| Mr Ortega, 66, was returned to office during the evening ceremony in Managua's Revolution Square, which was decorated with thousands of flowers. | Mr Ortega, 66, was returned to office during the evening ceremony in Managua's Revolution Square, which was decorated with thousands of flowers. |
| Daniel Ortega made a quick show of unity with Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad soon after stepping onstage at his inauguration ceremony, with the three huddling together and clasping hands. Mr Chavez later received a standing ovation and kissed his hands, raising them in appreciation of the crowd. | |
| The mood throughout the ceremony was youthful and informal - blinking Christmas lights festooned the trees, and guests sat on plastic lawn chairs covered in white cloth. | |
| Among the most noticeable dynamics of the crowd were legions of Mr Ortega's young supporters clad in purple T-shirts which read "Love, Peace, and Life." | |
| Mr Ortega concluded the night with a lengthy speech addressing topics ranging from nuclear weapons, to religion, to drug trafficking. As he spoke, a Spanish-language version of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" played softly on repeat. | |
| Some 8,000 guests - including the presidents of all the other Central American nations - watched as Mr Ortega read the oath. | Some 8,000 guests - including the presidents of all the other Central American nations - watched as Mr Ortega read the oath. |
| The former rebel won the election with more than 60% of the vote, while his Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) won a big enough congressional majority to enact constitutional changes. | The former rebel won the election with more than 60% of the vote, while his Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) won a big enough congressional majority to enact constitutional changes. |
| Sandinista congressional leader Edwin Castro has denied that there any plans to reform the constitution. | Sandinista congressional leader Edwin Castro has denied that there any plans to reform the constitution. |
| Nicaragua's First Lady and presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo earlier said Mr Ortega was "ready" to lead one of the "best governments" in Nicaragua's history. | Nicaragua's First Lady and presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo earlier said Mr Ortega was "ready" to lead one of the "best governments" in Nicaragua's history. |
| Mr Ortega was allowed to run after the Sandinista-controlled Supreme Court overturned a ban on consecutive terms. | Mr Ortega was allowed to run after the Sandinista-controlled Supreme Court overturned a ban on consecutive terms. |
| Mr Ortega previously ruled Nicaragua for 11 years after leading the Sandinista revolution that overthrew dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. | Mr Ortega previously ruled Nicaragua for 11 years after leading the Sandinista revolution that overthrew dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. |
| He returned to power in elections in 2006 after three failed attempts. | He returned to power in elections in 2006 after three failed attempts. |
| Since then, the economy has grown steadily, although Nicaragua remains one of the poorest countries in the region. | Since then, the economy has grown steadily, although Nicaragua remains one of the poorest countries in the region. |
| Mr Ortega himself has courted the business sector. | Mr Ortega himself has courted the business sector. |
| He has also introduced social programmes to help the country's poor, with help put at some $500m (£323m) a year from Venezuela. | He has also introduced social programmes to help the country's poor, with help put at some $500m (£323m) a year from Venezuela. |