TENS of thousands gathered in the centre of the Nicaraguan capital Managua on Wednesday evening to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista revolution in 1979.

Speaking in the historic Plaza de la Dignidad Nacional, Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega told the Nicaraguan people, dignitaries and hundreds of visitors from across the world that the overthrow of the US-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza took place because “we wanted our people to be freed from extreme poverty and from the illiteracy that exceeded 60 per cent.”

In a speech lasting more than two hours, President Ortega began by recalling the importance of Augusto Cesar Sandino and other Nicaraguan national heroes such as Rigoberto Lopez Perez and Carlos Fonseca, the latter being one of the founders of the governing Sandinista National Liberation Front.

Mr Ortega recalled the solidarity gesture by legendary Marxist revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso Thomas Sankara who visited Nicaragua in 1986 at the height of the US-backed counter-revolution.

Recalling the assassination of Mr Sankara in 1987, President Ortega said: “That solidarity is still remembered to this day.”

The president, who enjoys approval ratings in his country of more than 80 per cent, singled out the talents of young Nicaraguan artists labelling them the “fruits of the Sandinista Revolution.”

He said: “These groups have multiplied throughout the country carrying the revolutionary message through music, through singing and by doing so helping to forge the consciousness in the youth.”

President Ortega also used his wide-ranging speech to refer to the recent Summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

He said he believed the main intention of the EU is to get rid of the revolutionary governments of Latin America.

“We went to the meeting logically because we are not about to cut off communication with countries with which we do not share policies, which do not respect international laws, and which commit abominable crimes,” he said.

He said that many of the subjects raised at the summit by Nicaragua, such as the non-use of cluster bombs and the historic ICJ ruling against the US to compensate his country for war damages, were vetoed by the EU.

President Ortega told the celebration: “We work towards creating a world of justice, lucidity, intelligence, brotherhood, sensitivity and joy.”

He added: “We want to see a world that knows and lives in peace, harmony and solidarity.

“We want a better world. Viva Nicaragua!”