MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP):

Nicaragua's government said yesterday it will try to negotiate a resolution to a legal dispute over oil exploration concessions granted to two United States companies.

In a statement, Foreign Minister Samuel Santos said he met with members of Nicaragua's remote autonomous region who have taken legal action against the concessions.

Fishing and tourism

They argue the Government of former President Enrique Bolaños, who left office on January 10, did not take into account the impact the exploration would have on fishing and tourism.

Last year, Bolaños granted a 1.4 million-acre (566,572-hectare) concession to Denver-based Infinity Energy Resources Inc., and a 988,000-acre (400,000-hectare) concession to the international unit of MKJ Xploration, based in Metairie, Louisiana.

On its website, Infinity says it will begin this year "analysing existing seismic data for the concessions and plans future exploration and development".

The Nicaraguan Government statement said Santos wants to "look for appropriate mechanisms to diffuse the problem as soon as possible and in the best interests of everyone involved."

It said he promised to ensure that the concessions meet laws of the autonomous region.