AMNESTY: DISSIDENT CRACKDOWN IN NIGERIA UNABATED

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) -- Nigeria's military regime is showing no signs of
easing its suppression of dissent, despite appeals from the Roman Catholic
church, Amnesty International said today.

Just days before Pope John Paul II is to visit the West African country,
dozens of democracy activists and political opponents have been rounded up,
the London-based human rights group said.

The detainees include human rights activist Olisa Agbakoba, who was charged
with public disorder and held for two days, while police beat him with
rifle butts, Amnesty said.

Agbakoba had tried to organize a pro-democracy rally earlier this month in
Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.

At least 30 other proponents of democracy were detained with Agbakoba,
Amnesty said.

``Even the pope's impending visit has not been enough to stop the Nigerian
authorities from brutally suppressing dissenting opinions,'' Amnesty said
in a report, although it made no suggestion the arrests were timed to the
pope's visit.

``If the government can go on arresting and intimidating people just for
attending seminars or marches while the media spotlight is focused on
Nigeria, it sends a very clear message to the Nigerian people,'' Amnesty said.

``Fundamental freedoms are still not tolerated even during the government's
proclaimed `transition to democracy.'''

Nigeria's military head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, has pledged to hold
presidential elections later this year.

During his three-day visit, which begins Saturday in Abuja, the capital,
the pope is expected to renew his church's recent appeals for the release
of Nigeria's political prisoners.