Nicaragua students clash with police over oil costs

[struggle4progress]

25 Apr 2005 23:06:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, April 25 (Reuters) - Thousands of Nicaraguan students clashed with police on Monday when they protested transportation and food costs, while the nation's mayors challenged the president to solve the problems or resign.

At least two police officers and two students were injured in clashes in the capital, officials said, as protesters reportedly launched homemade grenades and set fire to police motorcycles and a bus.

Rising world oil prices lie at the heart of the protests. They began more than a week ago, when bus companies announced a rate hike to about 18 cents from 15 cents due largely to higher fuel costs. <snip>

President Enrique Bolanos, a conservative, has refused to authorize government subsidies to avoid the bus rate hikes, as local officials, students and transport companies have requested. He calls the protests politically motivated. <snip>

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25504888.htm

[bpilgrim]

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