Nicaragua was yesterday ruled off limits to British travellers after more than 25 people were killed and 100 injured in anti-government protests over the past five days.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all but essential travel to the central American country amid riots and the killing of a journalist on Facebook Live.
Nicaragua’s president Daniel Ortega has scrapped the changes to social security that have prompted violent protests across the country since Wednesday.
Ortega renewed calls for the private sector to engage in talks but business leaders are reported as saying they will only negotiate when the government stops “repression against the protests”.
Altering its travel advice to the country, the FCO said: “There has been ongoing street violence in many areas in Nicaragua. This has involved the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition, resulting in serious injuries and deaths.
“These incidents are unpredictable and can happen at any time. Major routes to the international airport have become impassable at times due to disorder.
“This could happen again at any time. There are reports of escalating violence in numerous locations around the country.
“Exercise extreme caution when planning travel and avoid affected areas entirely.”
About 17,000 British tourists travel the country every year with most visits described by the FCO as being trouble free, but there is no British embassy in Nicaragua.