US Envoy: No Apology For Chiding Nicaragua Court

US Envoy Says No Apology For Criticizing Nicaragua Court Ruling Allowing Ortega To Run Again

(AP)  MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - The U.S. ambassador to Nicaragua said Saturday that he sees no need to apologize for criticizing a court ruling opening the way for the possible re-election of leftist President Daniel Ortega.

"I did not do anything for me to apologize for," Robert J. Callahan said a day after being forced to flee a university fair when demonstrators wearing the red and black of Ortega's Sandinista party threw fireworks to protest his comments.

Callahan and the U.S. Embassy have been strongly criticized by Sandinista leaders since he said it was "improper" for the Nicaraguan Supreme Court to overturn the country's ban on consecutive presidential terms.

In an interview with television channel 12, Callahan said he met Friday night with Foreign Minister Samuel Santos and had "a very frank and honest discussion" about the issue.

The envoy didn't give any details of the meeting, but said Santos did not threaten him with expulsion as Sandinista leaders have called for.