Nigeria: Executions case delayed

A civil trial over the alleged involvement of giant oil producer Royal Dutch Shell in the executions of protesters in Nigeria in the 1990s has been delayed until next week, a court clerk said yesterday.

Jury selection in the case had been scheduled to begin today in the United States District Court in Manhattan, but now would begin on Wednesday at the earliest.

Shell is accused of human rights abuses, including violations connected with the 1995 hangings of prominent activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other protesters by Nigeria's then-military Government.

Shell has denied allegations of involvement.