The Central American country has been gripped by a year of political crisis since months of street protests erupted last April leaving more than 325 people dead, most of them opposition demonstrators.
Month-long talks between the government and the opposition Civic Alliance coalition broke up last week without agreement on political reform in the crisis-torn country.
But Ortega's leftist government said in a statement its "will and commitment to continue working towards national understanding" was unchanged.
It said it was not responsible for any "deadlock or delay" in the talks, which broke up last Wednesday.
More than 600 opposition supporters have been locked away
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
and thousands of Nicaraguans fled into exile.
Ortega, a 73-year-old former guerrilla leader, has refused to step down
...
Hell no! The money's too good!...
to facilitate early elections in 2019 -- a key opposition demand.
Threatened by United States and European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...sanctions, the government on March 20 pledged to release all political prisoners within 90 days in an operation to be overseen by the International Committee of the Red Thingy.
So far only about 200 prisoners have been released. The opposition says more than 800 people were locked away
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
during a crackdown on protests, but the government has put the number at less than 300.