Somoza ‘resignation’ off

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 9

Somoza ‘resignation’ off

NZPA-Reuter Managua A scheduled meeting of Nicaragua’s National Assembly, which it was rumoured President Anastasio Somoza might use to announce his resignation, was postponed indefinitely at the week-end.

Government officials who announced the postponement gave no explanation, but sources close to the President said he has told the United States he will not step down unless his National Guard is kept together and his National Liberal Party is included in a future Government.

The 53-year-old soldierPresident is battling a Leftwing Sandinist guerrilla at-

tempt to overthrow nim, and is under pressure from the United States to go to pave the way for a new, democratic Nicaragua.

President Somoza has been holding long talks with the American Ambassador (Mr Lawrence Pezzullo), which appreared to be deadlocked, and the sources said his stand was backed by the National Guard and his party. “It is the first time in history that a victorious army and general have been asked t o surrender unconditionally,” one Somoza supporter said. The guerrillas have pulled out of 12 slum suburbs of

[ Managua and the National Guard is reported to be preparing for an offensive to recapture the Sandinistsi strongholds elsewhere in the country.

Managua was quieter at the week-end and. for the first time in three weeks, traffic was able to move freely between the city centre and airport. Previously, a detour was necessary to avoid fighting. In neighbouring Costa Rica, President Rodrigo Carazo has sent a letter to most Latin-American Heads of State requesting their intervention to bring down General Somoza, informed sources have said.