Fifty Nigerians held in coup plot

The army in Nigeria has said that more than fifty suspects are being held in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the country's military ruler, General Sani Abacha, in December.

An army spokesman, Colonel Godwin Ugbo, told Reuters news agency today that he did not want to be specific on names, and he would not say whether the suspects were soldiers or civilians.

Colonel Ugbo said that a special investigation panel into the plot would conclude its work by the end of this month, and a military tribunal would then be set up.

The news agency says that certain groups of people have been invited to watch video recordings of the detainees being questioned.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service