Disgruntled by the Chamorro government's conciliatory policies and claiming that they were in danger from Sandinista soldiers, numerous ex-Contras rearmed and began new military actions.
Rightist José Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo of the Liberal Alliance Party declared winner of Nicaragua's presidential elections. Although himself a conservative, he called for unity among all of the country's political factions.
Former Nicaraguan president and Sec. Gen. Daniel Ortega of the leftist opposition party FSLN invoked immunity in the face of May 27 charges by his stepdaughter of sexual abuse.
Hurricane Mitch ravaged Nicaragua, leaving economic and societal scars that would take years to heal. With over 9,000 dead and more than 2 million homeless, Nicaragua was left with $10 billion in hurricane damages.
