Jackson arrives in Nigeria

The United States special envoy to Africa, Jesse Jackson, has arrived in Nigeria, where he has been having talks on the crisis in Sierra Leone with President Obasanjo.

Mr Jackson -- who is going on to Mali and Liberia -- told the BBC that he intended to discuss with regional leaders the next steps needed to protect the integrity of the democracy in Sierra Leone.

Mr Jackson has called off a planned visit to Freetown following criticism of comments he made, comparing Foday Sankoh's Sierra Leone rebels to the African National Congress.

He said afterwards he had been misunderstood.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service