Nicaragua's president offers benefits rethink as protest death toll rises

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Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Saturday he was ready to consider changing an unpopular social security overhaul that has sparked days of deadly protests and one of the biggest crises of his leadership.

At least 10 people have died since Nicaraguans began demonstrating on Wednesday, Vice President Rosario Murillo said. The protest is against measures that increase worker contributions and lower pensions, in an unusually direct challenge to Ortega.

Late on Saturday, a reporter was shot and killed during a live broadcast from Bluefields, a town on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast that has been hit by the violence.

Students clash with riot police agents during protests against governmental reforms in the Institute of Social Security (INSS) in Managua, April 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

The footage of the incident quickly spread on local and social media.

Earlier, Ortega said the benefit changes were not due to take effect until July 1, giving the government time to arrange talks with the private sector to review them.

"We'll have to see what change can be made to this decree or whether we need to do a new one," he said in a televised address.

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega waves to supporters after voting in the municipal elections at a polling station in Managua, Nicaragua, Nov. 5, 2017. /VCG Photo

"Hopefully, we can find a better way of making this change," he added. "Maybe we can find ways of covering part of what is being applied to workers and especially to pensioners."

The Red Cross says at least five people have died in protests in Managua and another in the municipality of Tipitapa, northeast of the capital. Hundreds have been injured.

Police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, and disturbances continued in Managua on Saturday.

Riot police agents clash with students during protests against government's reforms in the Institute of Social Security (INSS) in Managua, April 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Reports said at least 25 people had died, but the Red Cross said it couldn't confirm them.

The government has argued the changes to social security are fiscally necessary, but hundreds of retirees began demonstrating on Wednesday after the government approved the changes. They were soon joined by thousands of students and business workers in cities around the nation, sparking clashes with police.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters