Nigerian Bishop warns of ominous clouds

A leading Nigerian cleric has warned of what he described as an ominous cloud hanging over the country.

In his Christmas message, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Okogie, said the nation could not survive on what he called a game of intrigues and mutual distrust.

His comments come just a day after the military authorities showed a group of traditional rulers what they said were audio and video tapes of investigations into a coup plot allegedly foiled at the weekend.

The exact contents of the tapes have not been revealed.

The authorities have arrested twelve people, including the deputy to the military ruler, General Abacha, but they've made virtually no details public.

Pro-democracy activists have expressed scepticism about the alleged plot.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service