Nicaragua’s Ortega scraps reform that sparked deadly protests

Managua (AFP) – Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega agreed Sunday to scrap a highly-controversial reform of the country’s pension law that sparked four days of violence, leaving 24 people dead.

In talks with business leaders, Ortega said the Nicaraguan Institute for Social Security had decided to axe the reform that would have increased employee contributions and reduced benefits in a bid to tamp down on a climbing deficit.