Nigerian Junta Stalls Amid Protests, Riots

LAGOS, Nigeria —  Riots and protests flared anew Thursday over the death of the country’s most prominent political prisoner, and the ruling military council put off a final decision on restoring democracy.

The council said a small working group will report to leader Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar in a few days. It also commuted death sentences handed down against six men convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s former dictator.

“This gesture of goodwill is to facilitate the ongoing reconciliation process in the country” and in answer to numerous pleas for mercy, the junta said in a statement.

Meanwhile, fires burned through parts of a popular central market in the commercial capital of Lagos; homes there and in the southern city of Abeokuta were gutted by arson.

At least 24 people died in violence Wednesday.

Police say the Lagos fires were set by youths enraged at the death Tuesday of Moshood Abiola, the imprisoned businessman who was the apparent winner of 1993’s annulled presidential elections.

The government says he died of a heart attack, but his backers believe that he was killed by the ruling military junta. Many members of Abiola’s family also said they believe that he was killed.

The government says it has completed an autopsy, but it has not released the results. A second, independent autopsy to be conducted by a team of visiting foreign pathologists was scheduled for today.

After the two-day meeting of the Provisional Ruling Council, a spokesman said that “in the very near future, the way forward will be announced by the head of state.”

He also said the ruling council will ask security agencies to compile a list of those they consider to be political detainees. He did not say if all or any of them will be released.

Abubakar promised to restore democracy after taking over from dictator Sani Abacha, who died suddenly June 8, leaving the West African country of more than 100 million in political turmoil.

On Thursday, hundreds of angry students gathered outside Abiola’s home in Lagos, watched over by a large detachment of riot police.