One killed in armed attack on Nicaragua university students

Managua (dpa),May 29 2018-One student has died and 41 others were injured after armed men attacked a university they were occupying in the capital of Nicaragua as part of anti-government protests, Amnesty International said late Monday.   

“The Hospital Bautista in Managua confirmed to me that they have received 41 young students who were injured, most of them by gunfire, one has died,” tweeted Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at the human rights watchdog.   

“This is a consequence of the attack on the University of Engineering,” she continued.   

Students have played a key role in protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega, which began on April 17 and to which authorities have responded with deadly force. The university was the fourth to have been occupied by students.   

The demonstrations initially targeted new taxes on old age and disability pensions, as well as an increase in social security contributions. But protesters are now asking Ortega to resign.