Nicaragua Imposes Restrictions on Travel by Foreign Military Aides

The government Friday restricted the movements of foreign military attaches, requiring them to report all plans to travel outside the capital.

The Foreign Ministry notified embassies with permanent defense attaches of the new rules, saying they were revised to “specify duties, functions, rights and procedures corresponding to military personnel accredited as attaches to the different diplomatic missions.”

Western embassies of countries with permanent military attaches--the United States, France and Venezuela--declined to comment on the rules. There was no comment from Cuba, the Soviet Union and other East Bloc nations with military attaches in Nicaragua.

The regulations were issued after a Senate vote Wednesday paved the way for President Reagan’s requested $100 million in military and other aid to the rebels, known as contras, fighting the leftist government.

The new regulations said “military, naval and air attaches” as well as relatives and office personnel could travel freely inside Managua or adjoining tourist areas, “excluding zones or regions where access is limited.”

“In cases where military, naval and air attaches should travel outside the limits of Managua, they should communicate so in writing to the Defense Ministry 48 hours beforehand,” the statement said.