Nicaragua went to the polls yesterday to vote in municipal elections that have drawn skepticism at home and abroad amid allegations of non-transparency and fraud.

Some 3.8 million people were expected to turn in 146 of Nicaragua's 153 municipalities in a vote opposition leaders said is a referendum on the government of President Daniel Ortega.

For his part, Ortega accused the press of trying to "discredit" the country's electoral process, according to newswire EFE.

One of the most hotly contested races was that for Managua mayor between pro-Ortega Sandinista Alexis Argüello, a former boxing champion, and Liberal opposition politician Eduardo Montealegre.