THE NICARAGUAN President, Daniel Ortega, has received a stark warning not to risk peace and democracy by currying favour with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, writes Abigail Frymann.

The secretary-general of the Nicaraguan bishops' conference, Bishop René Sándigo of Juigalpa, expressed his disapproval of the comments that President Ortega made last Sunday during his trip to Venezuela. According to the Associated Press, Ortega praised the decision by the Venezuelan President not to renew the licence of the anti-government Radio Caracas Television. The decision sparked massive student protests.

Bishop Sándigo, 42, said that Ortega should be careful about making statements "only to befriend ‘some people'; the consequences could be serious for the entire nation". The consequences could be serious, the bishop said, because they could make Ortega "an indirect participant in activities that are perhaps incorrect".