The former mayor of the Nicaraguan capital, Managua, says he fears that fanatics within his own Sandinista party might try to kill him because he launched a challenge to party leader Daniel Ortega.
Herty Lewites said Wednesday that he has been labeled a traitor by some members of his party for seeking the party's nomination for president over Mr. Ortega, the current party leader. He says such a label is taken very seriously within his party and could prompt a fanatic to make an attempt on his life.
Mr. Lewites has asked for protection from the government and police.
Mr. Ortega was president of Nicaragua in the 1980s but lost his last three presidential elections. Polls indicate he could be a better candidate in a general election than Mr. Ortega.
Some information for this report provided by AP.