Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Nigeria to support the country's military ruler, General Sani Abacha, according to state radio.

The demonstrations came 48 hours after the military government announced that it had foiled an attempted coup and arrested 12 people, including senior army officers.

"The demonstrators expressed their solidarity with the administration of General Sani Abacha," according to the radio. It said that some of the demonstrators also called on Abacha to remain in office as a civilian president after elections next year.

The Nigerian authorities have released virtually no details about the attempted coup, except to say it was planned for Sunday.

Nigerian pro-democracy groups say they have seen coup plots like the one revealed by the government on Sunday before. They recall a plot the authorities say took place in 1995 but which pro-democracy groups say most Nigerians believe never took place at all and was used as a means of jailing opponents.

A military spokesman declined to give any indication about the whereabouts of Lieutenant General Diya, or the other 11. Nor did he specify what evidence there was against them.

"During the investigation there could be more arrests or the release of detainees," said defence headquarters spokesman Colonel Godwin Ugbo. He added that investigations into the 1995 coup plot took three months.

Former head of state General Olusegun Obasanjo and more than 40 others were convicted by a military tribunal and are currently serving various jail terms.

International reaction to this week's events have so far been muted, though diplomats have questioned the timing of the alleged coup - just 10 months before the military's promised handover to an elected civilian government.
 

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