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MANAGUA. – Nicaragua was sliding into unchartered territory yesterday with protests against longtime President Daniel Ortega swelling to outpace a robust police crackdown in which at least 27 people have been killed. Nearly a week of unrest has violently exposed public resentment of Ortega.

Relatives of US Embassy staff have been ordered out of the country by the State Department in a sign of international alarm at the turn of events.

Looting has also broken out, prompting shop owners to guard their premises with weapons.

Sparked by pension reforms unveiled last Wednesday, the protests have since grown and taken root across the country to include long-simmering grievances over political stagnation, economic frustration, and Ortega and Murillo’s distant and style of leadership.

While students have led the street protests that have degenerated into stone-throwing clashes with police firing weapons, other groups have made their opposition to Ortega felt.

That was in evidence late Monday, when tens of thousands of workers, pensioners and ordinary residents marched in the capital Managua to demand an end to the repression against protesters.

The peaceful demonstration was called by business leaders who have withdrawn their support of Ortega because of the violence used by his security forces.

“Out! Out!” yelled some of the marchers, echoing the students’ demand that Ortega and Murillo step down.

Similar marches took place in the northern cities of Esteli and Matagalpa.

Ortega has been taken aback by the worst anti-government protests he has faced since being returned as president 11 years ago after a prolonged period in opposition.

On Sunday he canceled the pension reform, and has offered to hold talks to calm the street tensions. Murillo on Monday promised to have arrested protesters freed.

But so far they have refused to bow to demands to rein in the police. – AFP