MANAGUA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Nicaragua's ruling party, the Sandinist Front of National Liberation (FSLN), accused the United States on Thursday of funding opposition activities aimed at destabilizing the government.

    The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) gave 321,000 U.S. dollars to 15 rightist groups ahead of the municipality elections slated for Nov. 9, FSLN told the Sandinist radio station "La Nueva Radio Ya".

    "This money is to be used to destabilize the Nicaraguan government, like it happened in Santa Cruz of Bolivia and in Venezuela in 2002, when they wanted to topple those governments," it said.

    The interior director of USAID, Carol Horning, and U.S. ambassador Paul Trivelli gave the funds on May 28 to "anarchist groups," it added.

    The radio station also presented USAID documents showing fund distribution to 15 social, religious and communication organizations.