Nicaraguan Doctors Step-up Protests
Nicaraguan physicians, encouraged by the general rejection of the police brutality they suffered last week, threatened to adopt a more radical position.

More than 20 doctors were wounded and 88 arrests made when the police forcefully evicted them from the Finance Ministry on Friday.

Medical Federation leader Elio Artola said they will suspend the general strike for the 30 percent pay raise, if the government puts their salaries on a par with their other Central American colleagues within five years.

Finance Minister Mario Flores said they will press charges against those arrested in the building sit-in, and Health Minister Margarita Gurdian blamed the MF for the failed negotiations, claiming union division in a power struggle.

She added that the doctors already received a 90 percent pay raise in the last eight years. They now earn between 200 and 500 dollars a month, depending on the specialty and years of practice.