Strike threat in Nicaragua

MANAGUA (AFP) - Nicaragua's National Opposition Union (UNO) leaders threatened on Sunday to shut down the country through civil disobedience unless President Violeta Chamorro drops left-wing Sandinistas from her government.

Around 20,000 Nicaraguans packed the Plaza de la Republica in the city centre on the third anniversary of UNO's victory at the polls, a win that cost the Sandinistas the presidency and swept Mrs Chamorro to power.

In January, however, the centre-right UNO coalition abandoned Mrs Chamorro and passed over to the opposition.