The number of deaths as a result of the crisis in Nicaragua continues to grow, while the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights estimates the death toll of some 285, other unofficial sources put the number way over 300.

This Wednesday thousands of Nicaraguans formed a human chain in a main road that connects Managua to Masaya, to demand that President Daniel Ortega leaves the Government and puts a stop the violence.

The United States sanctioned three Nicaraguan officials, Francisco Javier Diaz (Nicaragua’s Police Commissioner; Jose Francisco Lopez (President of the state-owned oil company Petronic) and Fidel Antonio Moreno (Secretary of the Managua mayor’s office), for their involvement in “human rights abuses and corruption”.

The announcement was made by the U.S. Treasury Department through a statement that explained that any assets belonging to these three officials in the United States are now blocked and U.S. citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them or the entities they represent.

“The United States accused Diaz of ordering the Nicaraguan police to set fire to a house in the capital, Managua, killing six people, including two children. It said police also asked gang leaders in Nicaragua to attack anti-government protesters, fired on and killed peaceful protesters.

Moreno ordered attacks against elderly and young people protesting peacefully, ordered violent attacks against anti-government marchers and beat protesters and stole money from Managua municipal projects, according to the Treasury.

Lopez exploited taxes and fines collected by the government, siphoned funds from infrastructure projects and used his position to his and his family’s benefit”, the statement said.

The protests in Nicaragua began on April 18. Protesters demand that President Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, who have been in the Presidency since 2007, step down, and, they request to call on elections and adopt democratic reforms.