51.   Government opponents have denied any coup plot existed and that Abacha was simply looking for an excuse to arrest critics.

52.   Government opponents have denied any coup plot existed.

53.   He has not been charged with a crime and the government has never presented evidence of the alleged coup plot.

54.   He had been serving time in connection with a foiled coup plot last year.

55.   He refused to comment on the recent exposure of an alleged coup plot against the junta by relatives of former dictator Ne Win.

56.   He said Chavunduka and Standard reporter Ray Choto, author of the report on the alleged coup plot, were expected to appear in court Wednesday.

57.   He did not elaborate, but he said any suggestion of a coup plot was wrong.

58.   He was ultimately charged with knowing about the coup plot but failing to notify authorities.

59.   In the past year there have been attempted coups in Ecuador and Paraguay, a coup plot in Guatemala, and electoral crises in Peru and Haiti.

60.   It did not say when the failed coup plot was uncovered.