The two rebel officials said they had quickly learned what one called "the rules of the game."

And a government hospital has even accepted an injured rebel official for treatment.

Senior rebel officials say they have supplies to last through December.

No rebel officials were seen among the outside observers present at the meeting site.

"Now every time we want to make a decision we are told to wait until after the elections," said one high-ranking rebel official.

"We have a foreign mission here to consult with the Indian Government," a rebel official said.

"We have a kind of unity now, but for us this has become a question of survival," a senior rebel official said.

"It's very uncomfortable right now," a senior rebel official said.

The two women were released, the rebel officials said, when a human rights official demanded they be allowed to return to Nicaragua.

When asked about him, even senior rebel officials lower their voices and look furtively about.