Guatemala to accept 135 political prisoners in Nicaragua, US says

FILE PHOTO: U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attends a press conference at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, China August 29, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has secured the release of 135 political prisoners in Nicaragua on humanitarian grounds, the White House said on Thursday, adding that they will go to Guatemala before seeking to lawfully move to the U.S. or other nations.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, in a statement, said those released include 13 members of the Texas-based Mountain Gateway organization, Catholic laypeople, students and others.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Costas Pitas, Editing by William Maclean)