Nicaraguan diplomat found dead in New York apartment

Consular official Cesar Mercado, 34, was found murdered yesterday morning, discovered by his driver. Police were reportedly called to the apartment in the Bronx around 11.35 local time.

The driver had found Mercado’s body lying in the apartment with a knife near him, although his apartment did not appear to be disturbed.

Nicaraguan Vice-President Jaime Morales told news media a US official had pledged the FBI would thoroughly investigate.

In a 2007 list of foreign consular officials stationed in the US, the US state department listed Mercado as consul in Nicaragua's New York consulate, and said he had first been recognised as a diplomat in 2003