The planned march by the PLC party, to proclaim fraud over the recent municipal elections was abandoned when rival factions from the FSLN ruling party blocked the route with buses and gangs of hooded youths with mortars and various other weapons.

Hundreds of Sandinista armed with homemade mortars, stones and sticks surrounded a group of liberals, among them was the candidate for mayor of Managua, Eduardo Montealegre, who had to be removed by riot to prevent being assaulted by the mob.

The siege of the marchers, which also involved politicians, intellectuals and civil society leaders, was maintained for about two hours in the western sector of the capital, until the opponents decided to withdraw.

Fighting broke out in various parts of the capital also, with the media once again a target of the FSLN.

One of the journalist covering the events, Ivan Olivares was stabbed with a bayonet and taken to the hospital for stitches.

Olivares later made a call to President Daniel Ortega not to incite further violence, stressing that journalists are becoming the targets of violence from the groups allied to his government.

In two other seperate events media crews from local channels 2 and 8 had their vehicles ransacked and destroyed.

This is the second time in three days the FSLN supporters have refused to let the opposition express their solidarity in the form of a protest march.