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![]() Monday, June 8, 1998 Published at 22:25 GMT 23:25 UK ![]() ![]() Special Report ![]() Call for democracy in Nigeria ![]() Abacha: opposition groups shedding no tears ![]() World leaders have expressed hope that Nigeria will restore democratic rule after the death of its leader, General Sani Abacha.
The same view was voiced in Washington. US State Department spokesman James Rubin said: "We believe there should be a civilian transition in Nigeria, a transition that allows for a genuine democratic process, including oppposition parties."
African leaders observed a minute's silence at their annual summit in Burkina Faso to pay their respects to General Abacha. Delegates said Nigerian officials formally informed the closed session of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit of Abacha's unexpected death. Dismay at death In Sierra Leone his death was greeted with dismay.
He was regarded as a hero there after Nigerian troops helped overthrow a military junta and restore the democratically-elected President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah to power. Togo's Foreign Minister Koffi Panou expressed "sadness" at the death of General Abacha. He said: "This is the death of a man, a head of state of a country with which Togo and its president had the best of relations. "We want the Nigerian people to have a president who guarantees peace and security in the region and who promotes the rule of law and democracy, as General Abacha undertook to do." ![]() |
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