IN BRIEF : Nigeria criticised

London - Amnesty International says Nigeria's military dictatorship shows blatant contempt for the rule of law and has stripped courts of all power to defend basic human rights.

Tiebile Drame, head of an Amnesty delegation which has returned from a 10-day visit, said on Monday that a new decree has robbed courts of the right to examine the legality of arrests by security forces. He called the decree "a striking example of the machinery of repression" being set up by military dictator General Sani Abacha. AP