Nicaragua detains dissident bishop for 'provocative' activities

Nicaraguan bishop and regime critic Rolando Alvarez was detained for "destabilising and provocative" activities, in a worsening standoff between the Church and a government accused of increasing authoritarianism.

After two weeks under police siege at his official residence in Matagalpa, central Nicaragua, Alvarez was taken by police to Managua some 130 kilometers away, authorities said.

Supporters said Alvarez was taken "with violence" to an unknown location, prompting the United Nations and Organisation of American States (OAS) to express concern.

In a tweet tagged #SOS, the Latin American Bishops Conference (CELAM) said that "the national police has entered the residence of our diocese of Matagalpa and has taken" the bishop.

It said this happened at the church residence in Matagalpa where Alvarez and a group of priests and lay people had been held under siege by police since August 4.

Vilma Nunez of the Nicaraguan Centre for Human Rights (Cenidh) said that police "removed (the bishop) with violence" and without telling anyone where he was being taken.

Hours later, the national police said in a statement that Alvarez was brought to Managua.

"The bishop is under house arrest in the capital city," it said, without revealing where.

Eight others, including five priests, who had been holed up with Alvarez were taken to Managua with him, according to CELAM, and were all under investigation.