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Nicaraguan police find huge cache of arms in revolting student's university

A HUGE cache of arms has been found at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN) as the Sandinista government launched an offensive against armed right-wing terrorists over the weekend.

The stash included bomb-making equipment and other weapons as those occupying the university confirmed their determination to topple the democratically elected government of President Daniel Ortega.

Today saw government forces move in to dismantle barricades in Masaya, which has been one of the centres of anti-government protests.

“Operation Clean-Up” came following a wave of government-backed demonstrations for peace across the country, many of which were attacked by right-wing opposition groups. 

Peace talks aimed at resolving the crisis were also attacked by the opposition groups, who insist Mr Ortega and the Sandinista government must resign.

A siege at the university ended yesterday after the intervention of the country’s Catholic church when the weapons cache was discovered.

A resident of Masaya, who did not wish to be named, told the Morning Star: “Today the police are entering Monimbo to try to get rid of the barricades which have dominated our lives for three months. 

“At all of these barricades, the protesters now have serious weapons such as AK47s. That is the reality of the ‘peaceful’ protest.”

He warned that the opposition gangs were winning the media war — portraying them as peaceful protesters being repressed by the government.

But he explained that last week four police officers and a teacher were killed in the small town of Morrito when a “peaceful” opposition march was used as cover.

“The pictures of the dead police make it clear they were unprepared for combat yet the opposition initially said it was the police who opened fire on the march and some marchers who happened to have weapons fired back,” he said.

The story changed after questions were asked as to why supposedly peaceful marchers were armed when opposition groups then claimed workers from the town hall fired on their colleagues, according to the source.

“Nine police were kidnapped after the killings and taken away by the attackers, only for some of them to be mysteriously videoed confirming the opposition’s version of events while they were being held captive and no doubt being threatened,” he explained.

The opposition groups are backed by the US, with Mr Ortega warning against their plans for regime change after demonstrations started in mid-April over planned pension reforms.

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