The World - News from June 9, 1986

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said his country “will take military action to free” eight West Germans held by the contras if the captives are not released by tonight. Ortega said the ultimatum has been given to the main rebel group, the Nicaraguan Democratic Force. The Germans--four men and four women--were working as volunteers on a government housing project when they were captured May 17. In Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Frank Arana, a contras spokesman, said the rebels “will confront militarily any situation that occurs.”