Nicaragua Supreme Court Approves Ortega Bid for Re-election
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nicaragua's leftist President Daniel Ortega appears to have won the right to seek re-election in 2011.
The constitutional commission of the Supreme Court is dominated by judges loyal to Ortega's Sandinista party. It has thrown out a ban on consecutive re-election. And the head of Nicaragua's electoral commission says the ruling is final.
Judges from the opposition Liberal Party were not present at Monday's vote and say it must be approved by the full Supreme Court. But they lack the votes to overturn it.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Latin American leaders such as Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Ecuador's Rafael Correa and Colombia's Alvaro Uribe also have maneuvered to extend their terms in office.