Nicaraguan to represent Libya at the UN

Nicaragua says the government of embattled Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi has named former Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel D’Escoto as its representative to the United Nations.

Ali Triki, who was previously named as Libya’s envoy to the United Nations, has been denied a visa by the United States. As a result, the Libyan regime has made the decision to name D’Escoto as its UN envoy, according to a spokesman for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s government.

Libyan authorities in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua have sent a letter to the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon, stating that D’Escoto “is authorized” to speak on behalf of Libya at the United Nations, the presidential spokesman told AFP.

Libya’s UN envoy Mohammed Shalgham was replaced with Triki when the former condemned the Libyan regime for its crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Nicaraguan diplomat D’Escoto is currently an advisor on international affairs to Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega, who has defended Gadhafi during strikes by the U.S.-led military alliance on Libya.