Nigeria out of Miss World

Johannesburg (AP) - International outrage over Nigeria's execution of nine dissidents has forced the withdrawal of Miss Nigeria from the Miss World beauty pageant, being held at the Sun City gambling resort, according to the organisers.

Toyin Raji, 23, voted Miss Personality yesterday by fellow contestants from 88 countries, will not take part in tomorrow night's ceremonies. Increasing government and trade union over the past week was said to have caused her withdrawal.

"She wasn't in the dress rehearsal," John Rose, a spokesman for the organisers, Eric and Julia Morley, said last night. "The implication is that she will not be appearing in the pageant."

South Africa's Department of Foreign Affairs said this week no official pressure had been put on Miss Nigeria to quit.