Ortega Suspends Cease-Fire Says U.S. Caused Rebel Attacks

White House Denounces Move But Won't Seek New Arms Aid

The Bush administration yesterday condemned Nicaragua's renunciation of the cease-fire with the contra rebels as "an affront to the hemisphere," but it sought to avoid possible pressure from Republican conservatives to seek renewed military aid for the contras.

Statements by the White House and State Department were aimed at "sending a strong signal that the United States is committed to the process of free and fair elections rather than civil war," a senior administration official declared.

The administration hopes to make clear to other governments, the official added, that any disruption of the balloting scheduled for Feb. 25 would be the fault of President Daniel Ortega and his Marxist-led Sandinista government.

White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater in a written statement called Ortega's abrogation of the 19-month cease-fire "an affront to the hemisphere and the democratic traditions we hold important." The statement added: "The Sandinistas' unwillingness to negotiate with the democratic opposition, its military harassment in the country, and now, its unilateral breaking of the cease-fire, confirms President Ortega's desire to maintain power at all costs."

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, "We hope the government of Nicaragua will reconsider this regrettable decision which raises serious questions about its commitment to the process of elections."

Boucher also rejected Ortega's claim that his actions were dictated by a need to defend against continuing attacks from the approximately 10,000 contra guerrillas encamped in neighboring Honduras and Costa Rica. Boucher said: