Nicaraguans worry about Ortega's foreign friends but happy on economic policies

Nicaragua's left-wing President Daniel Ortega has won over many critics at home with a successful drive to cut poverty and spur business-friendly policies in Central America's poorest country.

But his choice of friends abroad makes many Nicaraguans worry that the former guerrilla and Cold War icon is dragging down the country's reputation and unnecessarily antagonizing the United States and other Western countries.

Ortega took office for a second straight term last week after winning more than 60 percent support in a landslide election victory in November.

Original source: Reuters