MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Opposition deems strike in Nicaragua a success

Managua's rush hour did not seem to exist on Thursday.

The streets of Nicaragua's main cities were empty and almost every store remained unopened during Thursday's nationwide strike which was considered a success by opposition leaders, it was reported.

Amid a strong police presence in the streets and despite the government's threats, the protest was staged to demand that the administration of Daniel Ortega releases all political prisoners and complies with the agreements reached at the negotiating table.

The strike was particularly noticeable in cities such as Camoapa, Chichigalpa, Chinandega, Ciudad Sandino, El Viejo, Granada, Jinotepe, León, Nueva Guinea, Managua, Matagalpa and Tipitapa.

Large and medium-sized companies were hit by the strike, while small businesses opened their doors almost normally. But Managua's rush hour did not seem to exist. The Mercado Oriental, arguably the largest in Central America, was noticeably quieter than usual, cars running through its inner streets, which is not possible on a normal day, but pharmacies and gas stations were open.

A private school attended by some of Ortega’s grandchildren was reportedly among those closed, though it ckaimed it was due to security reasons.

Long-haul bus terminals were empty. there was no urban transport available other than taxis whose owners chose to work normally.