Nicaragua Charges 34 U.S. Spy Flights in 30-Day Period

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — The Defense Ministry accused the United States on Monday of conducting 34 spy flights over Nicaragua in a 30-day period and maintaining reconnaissance ships off the nation’s two coasts.

The ministry said the spy flights were registered between March 5 and April 5 and are “being carried out for exploration and supply activities for” the U.S.-backed contras. Officials charged the United States with conducting “radio-electronic exploration over our territory with up to six flights each with RC-135, EC-130, U-21 and U-2 airplanes.”

In addition, the ministry denounced the presence of U.S. Navy ships it identified as the ARL-24 Sphynx and the Nicor Navigator off the Pacific coast and “three or four navy units” in the Caribbean, saying they are there to monitor Nicaraguan activities.