Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega begins new presidential term

The former Sandinista guerrilla leader has promised "no dramatic changes" during his next five years in office.

The main opposition party boycotted the ceremony in Managua, saying the poll was fraudulent and unconstitutional, BBC News reports.

Mr Ortega's critics also accuse him of seeking to concentrate power in his hands and stay in office indefinitely.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were among the leaders attending the inauguration in the capital.

Help for poor

Mr Ortega, 66, was returned to office during the evening ceremony in Managua's Revolution Square, which was decorated with thousands of flowers.

Some 8,000 guests - including the presidents of all the other Central American nations - watched as Mr Ortega read the oath.

The former rebel won the election with more than 60% of the vote, while his Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) won a big enough congressional majority to enact constitutional changes.

Sandinista congressional leader Edwin Castro has denied that there any plans to reform the constitution.

Nicaragua's First Lady and presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo earlier said Mr Ortega was "ready" to lead one of the "best governments" in Nicaragua's history.

Mr Ortega was allowed to run after the Sandinista-controlled Supreme Court overturned a ban on consecutive terms.

Mr Ortega previously ruled Nicaragua for 11 years after leading the Sandinista revolution that overthrew dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979.

He returned to power in elections in 2006 after three failed attempts.

Since then, the economy has grown steadily, although Nicaragua remains one of the poorest countries in the region.

Mr Ortega himself has courted the business sector.

He has also introduced social programmes to help the country's poor, with help put at some $500m (£323m) a year from Venezuela.

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