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C'wealth ministers to

discuss Nigeria sanctions

LONDON: Commonwealth ministers gather in London on Tuesday to discuss what more they can to do to bring renegade Nigeria into line but officials said it was unlikely the meeting would agree to impose sanctions on Lagos. Some ministers are outraged that Nigeria, suspended last year at a meeting in Auckland after it executed nine human rights campaigners, has barred a Commonwealth mission to discuss a return to democracy in the populous African state.

The ministers form the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which said last Thursday it could propose sanctions against Nigeria if it continued to deny access to the mission.

"We cannot accept the current violations taking place in Nigeria without pressing, through the CMAG, for new and stronger measures," new Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said in a statement.

But despite his determination to crack down on Nigeria, officials and diplomats said it was clear some in the Commonwealth were already dragging their feet for fear they might come under the human rights spotlight next.

"It's the principle which is slightly unnerving. After the rush in Auckland people are all having second thoughts," said one Commonwealth insider.

"What should Zimbabwe do? They've just had elections which confirm the country is basically a one-party state. There are members who worry that if we take a close look at persistent human rights violations, they could be in the firing line next."

Commonwealth officials say Nigeria is refusing to accept the CMAG mission because it wants to discuss other issues first, particularly its suspension.

Britain opposes sanctions, saying they would be ineffective unless the United States -- a major purchaser of Nigerian oil -- took part as well.

"CMAG will look into sanctions but to get agreement with such diverging views will be difficult. I'd be a bit surprised if anything dramatic came out of the meeting," said Dr Peter Lyon of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in London.

The United States, like Canada, agrees firmer steps should be taken against Nigeria but questions remain over whether it would agree to measures which could hurt domestically.

For ideological reasons Washington has already banned oil imports from Libya and Iraq, which were once major suppliers.

A U.S. official said Washington was continuing to consult with the international community on to what to do about Nigeria, but gave no specific details.

"We're trying to generate some kind of consensus on what measures, be they commercial or political, might be put in place. Sanctions are one set of a range of options," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

Diplomats say one possibility would be to impose a sporting boycott on Nigeria, but given that the 1996 Olympics will be held in Atlanta, this could provoke strong U.S. protests.

CMAG comprises Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Ghana, Britain, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. Any action proposed against Nigeria will be forwarded to the next Commonwealth heads of government meeting to be held in September 1997 in Edinburgh.-Reuter