Nicaragua's Ortega reappears in public after absence

4 March 2014 Last updated at 06:20 ET
Nicaragua's Ortega reappears in public after absence

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega appeared in public on Monday after a 10-day absence which had led to rumours about his health. Mr Ortega, 68, greeted newly appointed Nicaraguan Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes at the airport in the capital, Managua.

Referring to the rumours, he told the cardinal he had "carried out the miracle of resurrecting me because a lot people thought I was dead".

Mr Ortega, a former Sandinista rebel, is serving his third term in office.

Rumour mill

There had been feverish speculation about his state of health after he began missing official ceremonies after 21 February.

On 26 February, he had been expected to attend an event commemorating the 1978 indigenous uprising in Monimbo, in which his brother was killed.

More:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26432867