U.S. Assails Sandinista Offensive but Confirms Contra Infiltration

President Bush on Thursday condemned Nicaragua’s military offensive against the Contras, but the State Department confirmed one of the Sandinista regime’s main charges against the rebels: that they have infiltrated as many as 2,000 fresh troops into the country.

“The decision of the Sandinista government to end the cease-fire is an assault on the electoral process in Nicaragua, which the entire hemisphere has condemned,” Bush said. “Despite Sandinista denials, it is hard not to believe that the government of Nicaragua is taking this action to give itself an excuse to close down the limited political space that it has allowed thus far.”

Both the White House and State Department confirmed that the Sandinistas have launched “major operations” against the Contras.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the offensive includes helicopter-borne assault troops and heavy artillery, and is being carried out on two fronts, in southeastern and north-central Nicaragua.

But Boucher also said Contra leaders have told the Administration that in recent weeks, as many as 2,000 Contras have joined the estimated 3,500 of their comrades already in northern Nicaragua.

The reason for the new infiltrations, Boucher said, is “to encourage their supporters to register for the election and to vote.” Nicaragua is scheduled to hold a presidential election next Feb. 25. He offered no explanation of how the rebels’ increased troop strength would promote voter registration.

Boucher dismissed the Sandinistas’ argument that the large-scale Contra infiltration required a response from the government. “This is not in our mind any sufficient excuse for launching a major, large-scale operation in these areas,” he said.

The Pentagon issued an estimate that conflicted with the State Department figures. In a written statement, the Defense Department said there are about 4,000 Contras inside Nicaragua. It also said their supplies of ammunition, grenades and mines are “almost exhausted and insufficient to support offensive operations.”

On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution condemning the Sandinistas’ action and demanding that they “end their aggression in the region, end their tyranny over their own people and permit the establishment of democracy.” The measure had passed the Senate on Wednesday.