SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN NIGERIA
Press Release
SG/SM/6599
AFR/74
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN NIGERIA
19980616 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General was pleased to learn that on 15 June the Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, ordered the immediate release of former Nigerian Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo and eight other political figures.
The Secretary-General welcomes the development as a positive step towards peaceful political dialogue in Nigeria. He hopes that other constructive measures will follow, and that Nigeria will speedily adopt a credible process of transition to democratic, civilian rule. The Secretary- General reaffirms the readiness of the United Nations to support Nigeria in such a process.
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