61.   He did not say where they were being held or why they were detained, and there was no confirmation from the Nigerian government.

62.   He urged the Nigerian government to open the trials to the public.

63.   However the death sentences, which drew international protests, were later commuted, in what the Nigerian government called an act of unprecedented magnanimity.

64.   In January, the lower house of the Nigerian Parliament called on the Nigerian government to make a formal request for return of the artifacts.

65.   In Lagos, the Nigerian government did not issue any comment about the Commonwealth suspension.

66.   In South Africa, Miss Nigeria withdrew from the Miss World beauty pageant Thursday after protests against the Nigerian government.

67.   It is only the second time that a Nigerian military government has actually fulfilled a promise to return to barracks.

68.   It urged the Nigerian government to rescind orders to dissolve union executive councils.

69.   It was unclear which leaders had been invited or what was on the agenda and a Nigerian government spokesman gave no details of the possible summit.

70.   It was unclear how the Nigerian government might respond, although Barnes said Shell had urged all sides to remain peaceful and resolve the problem through dialogue.