Nicaragua installs truth commission to probe fatal protests

MANAGUA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Nicaragua's National Assembly on Sunday swore in the members of a truth and justice commission tasked to investigated recent violent protests that left scores of people dead.

Both the ruling Sandinista party, which holds a majority in congress, and opposition parties back the initiative to bring to justice those responsible for the deaths.

The president of the assembly, Sandinista party Deputy Gustavo Porras, said the five-member body will have three months to present its findings.

Opposition Deputy Alejandro Mejia Ferreti told reporters that lawmakers had full confidence in the capacity and honesty of each of the members.

"We want their conclusions to show who was really responsible for the violent events, the deaths that occurred during the protests, so that justice can be done," said Ferreti.

Nicaragua witnessed large-scale demonstrations since April 18, as President Daniel Ortega intended to implement pension reforms that sought to increase the contributions of employers and employees while cutting overall benefits.

The protests, the worst since Ortega took office in 2007, have claimed dozens of lives, according to media reports. Ortega is now in his fourth term as president. Enditem