WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday announced to sanction against Nicaraguan vice president and a key advisor to her over the government's response to the protests that began in April.
In a statement, the Treasury said that the targets are Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's closest associates, namely, the vice president of Nicaragua and first lady, Rosario Maria Murillo De Ortega, and Nestor Moncada Lau, who has acted as a national security advisor to the country's president and vice president.
Saying the Nicaraguan government continues to engage in "rampant corruption" and "serious human rights abuse," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement that Washington is committed to holding the Ortega regime accountable.
Also on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order, which declared a national emergency with respect to the Nicaraguan government's response to protests that began on April 18, and allowed the imposition of sanctions on actors allegedly engaged in these activities.
As a result of the sanction, any property or interests in property of those designated, within or transiting U.S. jurisdiction or the possession or control of a U.S. person, would be blocked and reported to the Treasury.
Moreover, all transactions by U.S. persons within or transiting the United States that involve any property or interests in property of the designated persons would be generally prohibited.
The White House said in a statement issued also on Tuesday that the Trump administration will continue to use all the economic and diplomatic tools at its disposal to add pressure on the Ortega government.
On Nov. 1, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton unveiled a hard-line policy toward Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.
