Nicaragua to leave Organization of American States

Nicaragua’s government announced on Friday that it will withdraw from the Organization of American States, a regional body that has accused President Daniel Ortega's government of acts of repression and rigging this month’s election.

Ortega was elected to a fourth consecutive term in November 7 elections that were broadly criticized as a farce. Seven challengers to Ortega were arrested and jailed in the months prior to the election. The OAS General Assembly voted last week to condemn the elections, saying they “were not free, fair or transparent, and lack democratic legitimacy.”

Twenty-five countries in the Americas voted in favour of the resolution, while seven - including Mexico - abstained. Only Nicaragua voted against it.