by Go Danny O
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001 at 5:42 AM
Here we go again: the Bush Administration says the Sandinistas, who might win the upcoming Nicaraugran elections, have terrorist ties. Is Iran/Contra II on the horizon? Osama/Contra, perhaps?
Sandinistas have ties to Iraq, Libya, says Bush administration
10/07/01
George Gedda
Associated Press
Washington
- The Bush administration warned yesterday that the leftist Sandinista party in Nicaragua, which hopes to return to power in elections next month, has maintained ties over the years with Iraq and Libya.
It was the second time in three days that the administration sought to link the Sandinistas to international terrorism.
In addition to Iraq and Libya, both listed by the administration as terrorist countries, the Sandinistas also have maintained contact with the leftist FARC rebels in Colombia and the ETA separatist movement in Spain, State Department spokeswoman Eliza Koch said.
Both groups are on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations.
The Sandinistas, who ruled Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, are seeking a comeback in elections Nov. 4. Sandinista presidential candidate Daniel Ortega is running neck-and-neck with conservative candidate Enrique Bolanos, according to polls.
The U.S. statements suggest the Sandinistas cannot be counted on to support the international anti-terrorism coalition the administration has been attempting to forge since the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Original: Deja Vu: Bush jr's Administration says Sandinistas have Terrorist Ties