Nicaragua is holding festivities to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution. The uprising by the Sandinista National Liberation Front, the FSLN, ousted Anastasio Somoza, ending 45 years of dictatorship by his family.

The revolutionary movement ruled the country under President Daniel Ortega until the elections of 1990, which were won by the centre-right opposition leader Violetta Barrios Chamorro. Mr Ortega returned to power two years ago helped by Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chávez, who has been pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into Nicaragua. The aid has enabled the government to provide free health care, education and public transport for the country's impoverished population. Critics blame President Ortega of failing to tackle the country's high unemployment and ailing economy. They also accuse him of seeking to perpetuate his power.