In Nicaragua, 212 people were killed in the unprecedented wave of protests that has been affecting the country for two months. Triggered on 18 April by a social security reform project, the grumble quickly degenerated into street combat. The protesters demand the departure of President Daniel Ortega, a former guerrilla who has been in power since 2007, after a first period in power from 1979 to 1990. To the west of the country, the city of Masaya became the epicentre of the protests.