Nicaragua junta set to continue capitalist rule

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the Junta, which on be 'totally eliminated" • has them the option of joining the proclaimed that this offered full guarantees of safety 'new' army alongside militants an guard' would have to to officers and men and given of the FSLN.

"We are studying the political and diplomatic situation to see whether our military position lets us be more flexible without hurting our principles or endangering our victory."

So said Radio Sandinista on 11 July.

As the National Guard fights for its life in Managua and the southern town of Rivas the provisional Junta established by the FSLN is showing every sign of coming to a settlement with the imperialists on terms thoroughly acceptable to both Somoza and Washington.

Ferocity

The extreme ferocity with which Somoza has pursued his campaign, most evident in the saturation bombing of the workers' quarters of Managua itself, has confirmed the National Guard as the most deeply loathed section of Nicaraguan society. The dictator, obviously touched by the loyalty of his butchers and yet recognising that he is in a hopeless situation, has repeatedly offered his resignation over the last ten days on the condition that the Guard is maintained and given firm guarantees.

Now the Junta, which on uly 4 prociaimed that this praetorian guard' would have to be 'totally eliminated', has offered full guarantees of safety to officers and men and given

Sandinista guerrillas

• This is the part of the settlement proposed on July 10 that will be most immediately abhorrent to the Nicaraguan masses. Yet the Junta has proffered further concessions truce What has become known as the "holiday war" appears to have ended-with a compromise.

The politico-military wing of the Basque national liberation movement ETA has in the last two weeks exploded 16 bombs in Spanish tourist resorts, though with scarcely any casualties.

ETA(p-m)'s demands were originally for the removal of 100 Basque political prisoners from Soria jail to another prison in Euskadi.

The government, while starting with a refusal to make any concessions, has ended up by withdrawing the armed police from the immediate guarding of the Basque prisoners and replaced them with prison officers.

It is objectively a very minor concession, and far from meeting ETA(p-m)'s demands.

But it seems to have been accepted by ETA(p-m)under pressure from the bourgeois-led Basque General 'Council which is trying to negotiate an autonomy deal with the Suarez But in spite of the trivial