Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Sunday condemned the air raids carried out by the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) in Libya.

He noted that one of Gaddafi's sons and three of his grandchildren were killed in a NATO air strike Saturday night when they were holding an informal meeting, according to his official website.

The government of Nicaragua "condemns the murders against the Libyan people, which have killed thousands of civilians, including men and women of all ages and boys and girls," Ortega said, while expressing his sympathy with Gaddafi and his family.

He also demanded an immediate cease-fire and stressed the need to resume dialogue and negotiation based on internationally recognized principles.

The president also rejected "the sustained practices of the neo-colonial powers" that violated "all the ethical codes and all the rights" and caused death and pain in Libya.