Nicaragua warns Costa Rica it may try to 'reclaim' province in court

President Daniel Ortega warned Costa Rica that Nicaragua may ask the International Court of Justice to restore to Managua a province he said it lost to "occupation" in 1824.

Ortega was referring to Guanacaste province, which is about 20 percent of neighboring Costa Rica's territory and a popular tourism hub.

"Costa Rica did not win that territory in an international court, but rather by force, with arms," Ortega said at a military ceremony on Monday.

He said he would like to negotiate with San Jose over the issue, an idea that has been rejected by Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla.