MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) -- Leftist Sandinista legislators took control
                  of the congressional hall and halted proceedings Tuesday to block the
                  approval of the federal budget by the Liberal Party, which dominates the
                  congress.

                  The Sandinista lawmakers claimed the Liberals rushed approval of the first
                  part of the budget without allowing debate.

                  Monica Baltodano, a Sandinista congresswoman said the Liberals had
                  "stepped over the state of law, abruptly interrupting the process of making
                  motions on the budget debate."

                  A shoving match between legislators prompted police to intervene.

                  Sandinista legislators say they will stay in the hall to prevent the passage of
                  "an unfair budget and the free-market policy it implies."

                  The Sandinistas, who toppled dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979,
                  controlled the government until losing elections in 1990. They remain the
                  country's largest party and have the second largest number of legislators in
                  congress.

                  Hundreds of students who protested the government's education spending
                  last week returned to the streets outside congress Tuesday, to support the
                  Sandinista lawmakers.

                  Fourteen students were injured after explosives carried by one of them were
                  set off, local media reported.

                    Copyright 1999 The Associated Press.