Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Defiant Gen. Ortega insists he won't quit Date: Wed, 28 Oct 92 15:01:10 EST Message-ID: \SE A;TOP OF THE NEWS;WORLD \HD Defiant Gen. Ortega insists he won't quit \BY FROM WIRE DISPATCHES AND STAFF REPORTS \DT MANAGUA, Nicaragua MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Gen. Humberto Ortega said yesterday that he will not resign as Nicaragua's military leader or permit the further dismantling of the army. Gen. Ortega, brother of ex-President Daniel Ortega, told reporters "extremist" forces are trying to destroy the military but he will not let it happen. The general accused Sen. Jesse Helms, North Carolina Republican, of trying to subvert Nicaragua's sovereignty by holding up U.S. financial aid until all Sandinistas are removed from the government. During Nicaragua's civil war in the 1980s, the Sandinista-led military swelled to 100,000 soldiers but is now down to about 18,500. Gen. Ortega expressed continued support for the government of Violeta Chamorro, who defeated the general's brother in a 1990 election. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM