UN chief condemns violence in Nicaragua

UNITED NATIONS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the ongoing violence in Nicaragua, particularly the killing of a protestor during demonstrations in Managua on Wednesday.

The secretary-general welcomed the recent announcement on the establishment of a panel of experts of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to investigate the violence and urged the Nicaraguan government to ensure protection and freedom of expression of peaceful demonstrators, said Farhan Haq, Guterres' deputy spokesman, in a statement.

The secretary-general called on the government to favorably consider the requests of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the country, it said.

The United Nations is available to assist national dialogue efforts to strengthen the rule of law, respect for human rights and the peaceful resolution of differences, said the statement. Enditem