Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua, has attacked the British monarchy and said he was offended by William and Kate's gala marriage ceremony.

Left-winger Mr Ortega said the hands of the monarchy "are stained with blood because they are celebrating while Libya is being bombed, while blood is being spilled in Libya".

Nicaragua's leader made the comments in a speech to thousands of supporters hours after the lavish royal wedding that was watched by an estimated two billion people around the world.

The governments of Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia are staunch allies of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and have criticised US and European air strikes.