Nicaraguan workers and public employees marched Thursday to the building of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to protest the organization's "interference in the country's internal affairs."

Gustavo Porras, general secretary of the National Front of Workers (FNT), said the demonstration aimed to protest the IMF's opinion about the country's economic policies.

Gabriel Di Bella, IMF representative to Nicaragua, said last week the salary bonus announced by President Daniel Ortega for state employees could mean an expense of 70 million US dollars, which has pulled back the economic program signed in 2007.

Porras said the bonus is to benefit more than 120,000 workers. Since it was a decision taken by the Nicaraguan government, no foreigners should intervene in the issue.

Porras also criticized the IMF for its attempt to put pressure on the Nicaraguan government to raise the retirement age from 60 years old to 65 years old, and to increase the cost of social insurance.