U.S. Diplomats Expelled in Tiff Leave Managua

Nineteen of 20 U.S. diplomats ordered expelled from Nicaragua in reprisal for a raid on the Nicaraguan ambassador’s residence in Panama City left Managua on Monday for Miami.

The group, short one diplomat who was visiting the United States at the time the expulsion was announced, was given 72 hours to get out of Nicaragua by President Daniel Ortega on Saturday in retaliation for the raid Friday night.

U.S. soldiers who raided the house in a search for weapons said they believed it was not the ambassador’s official residence and was therefore not covered by diplomatic immunity.

Nicaraguan officials were waiting Monday for the United States to respond to the expulsions.

“I am certain Washington is going to have a reaction when appropriate. Today is a holiday both there and here,” U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Leonard said at the airport where he came to say goodby to his colleagues.

Leonard was among 15 accredited U.S. diplomats allowed to remain in Nicaragua.

Ortega said he expelled the diplomats in response to the breach of diplomatic conventions when U.S. soldiers searched the Panamanian residence of Ambassador Antenor Ferrey.

Ortega accused the United States of hoping the raid would provoke him into ordering a counter-raid on the U.S. Embassy in Managua to justify an American military attack on Nicaragua.