Nicaragua Mutes Catholic Radio

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — The Interior Ministry today closed down the Roman Catholic Church’s radio station, accusing it of “inciting to violence, disorder and lack of respect for constitutional government.”

Msgr. Bismarck Carballo, director of Radio Catolica, said the order was “unjust and arbitrary.” On Sunday, police used tear gas and beat protesters to break up an anti-government demonstration by about 10,000 people. President Daniel Ortega said the rally was part of a U.S. plan to destabilize the leftist Sandinista government. An official in the Interior Ministry’s press office said the radio station was ordered shut down because of its broadcasts about the demonstration.