The Nicaraguan government said Sunday it expected the Contra rebels to lay down their weapons and disband on schedule by June 10, despite rebel announcements canceling a disarmament agreement.
In a statement from President Violeta Chamorro's office, the government reaffirmed its expectation that the rebels would disarm in accordance with an agreement they signed April 19.Robert Ferrey, a former Contra leader and Chamorro's delegate to oversee the demobilization, said he had spoken with Contra commander-in-chief Israel Galeano, known as "Commander Franklin," and had persuaded him to rescind a decision to cancel the disarmament process.
Galeano released a public statement Friday saying the Contras were immediately suspending the process because of continued aggression by the army, still controlled by the opposition Sandinistas, and the instability of Chamorro's fledgling government.