WASHINGTON — The State Department accused Nicaragua’s government today of engaging in mere “cosmetic gestures” in the steps it has taken to comply with the Central America peace agreement.

While welcoming the leftist Sandinista government’s decision to allow the reopening of an opposition newspaper and a Roman Catholic radio station, spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said “these

steps do not constitute the advent of freedom of the press in Nicaragua.” (Story, Page 8.)