Senate Leaders Mitchell and Dole Join Attack on Ortega

Congressional leaders Sunday joined in President Bush’s denunciation of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and, and the Senate’s majority leader vowed to stand by a promise to provide humanitarian aid to the Contras through February elections in Nicaragua.

Sen. George J. Mitchell (D-Me.), the majority leader, said that Ortega’s threat to call off a 19-month cease-fire between his Sandinista forces and the Contras was “a very unwise move, particularly the timing of it.”

“It is my hope the free and open election process will go forward and that the results will be accepted by the people of Nicaragua,” said Mitchell, who was interviewed on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

He also said “we intend to honor” the agreement that the Democratic-led Congress reached with the Administration last spring to provide non-lethal aid. The $49-million aid package is subject to review and a final go-ahead in late November by congressional committees that oversee Contra aid.

Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.), interviewed on the same program, said he will present a resolution to the full Senate on Tuesday condemning Ortega--and he said he hopes for a unanimous vote.

“There are 2 million people registered to vote” in the Feb. 25 elections, in which Ortega is a candidate, Dole said. “I think Ortega sees that as a danger to his dictatorship. If it’s a fair election, he’s gone, which would be good news for everyone.”