Protesters yell from behind the road block they erected as they face off with security forces near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
The Associated Press
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - The Latest on unrest in Nicaragua (all times local):
4:40 a.m.
Pope Francis has expressed deep worry over deadly violence in Nicaragua fueled by protests and he's pressing for a peaceful solution.
Human rights advocates say that since April 18 at least 26 people have been killed in unrest over social security reforms planned by President Daniel Ortega's government. Dozens have been injured or arrested.
Francis told people in St. Peter's Square that he's "very worried" about the situation in the Central American country.
He said he's expressing "closeness in prayer to that beloved country" and joining local bishops in seeking an end to "every violence, that useless bloodshed is avoided and that open issues are resolved peacefully and with a sense of responsibility."
Ortega says his government is willing to enter into talks over the dispute.
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10:25 p.m.
In the grainy, nighttime video, journalist Angel Gahona, clad in jeans and a blue shirt, holds up a cellphone and narrates as he approaches the facade of city hall in Bluefields, Nicaragua, reporting live via Facebook on protests that have rocked the Central American nation for four days.
Seconds later a gunshot rings out and Gahona slumps lifeless to the curb. Voices cry his name and someone presses a piece of cloth to his head to try to staunch the stream of blood. Another Bluefields reporter, Ileana Lacayo, confirms that he died before reaching the hospital.
Besides Gahona at least 25 others have been killed since Wednesday in unrest over social security reforms planned by President Daniel Ortega's government, according to a human rights group.
A protester waves a Nicaraguan flag at the road block erected by protesters facing off with security forces near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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Anti-government protesters pull down a statue that is emblematic of the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, at the Jean Paul Jennie round-about in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Ortega said Saturday that his government is willing to enter into talks over social security reforms that have sparked four days of protests and clashes in which, rights monitors say, at least 25 people have died. A journalist covering the unrest was also killed. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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A protester holds up a Nicaraguan flag that reads in Spanish "Free country. Who surrenders. Your mother!" during clashes with security forces near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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A protester waves a Nicaraguan flag at the road block erected by protesters facing off with security forces near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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Men carry the casket of Alvaro Manuel Conrado Davila, a 15-year-old student who died the previous day during protests near the Centro Americana University (UCA), to his wake in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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Protesters yell from behind the road block they erected as they face off with security forces near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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The mother of Alvaro Manuel Conrado Davila, a 15-year-old student who died the previous day during protests near the Centro Americana University (UCA), sits during his wake in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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Masked protesters, one with a Nicaraguan flag, yell from the road block they erected as they face off with security forces near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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A protester stands before security forces during clashes near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Nicaragua's government said on Saturday it is willing to negotiate over controversial social security reforms that have prompted protests and deadly clashes this week. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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Anti-government protesters pull down one of two metal tree sculptures that are emblematic of the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, at the Jean Paul Jennie round-about in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Ortega said Saturday that his government is willing to enter into talks over social security reforms that have sparked four days of protests and clashes in which, rights monitors say, at least 25 people have died. A journalist covering the unrest was also killed. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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An anti-government protester holds up the Spanish sign: "Nicaragua free" at the Jean Paul Jennie round-about where protesters pulled down a statue that is emblematic of the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Ortega said Saturday that his government is willing to enter into talks over social security reforms that have sparked four days of protests and clashes in which, rights monitors say, at least 25 people have died. A journalist covering the unrest was also killed. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
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