Nicaragua closes border to Cuban migrants, rebukes Costa Rica

PENAS BLANCAS, Nicaragua (Reuters) - Nicaragua on Sunday closed its border with Costa Rica to hundreds of Cubans headed for the United States, stoking diplomatic tensions over a growing wave of migrants making the journey north from the Communist-ruled island.

Nicaragua's government accused Costa Rica of sparking a "humanitarian crisis" after its southern neighbour issued transit visas over the weekend to more than 1,000 Cubans who had been detained at its border with Panama demanding the right to proceed.