[Mandela] also revealed that the oil company Shell had sent a deputation to see him, but said that he would not give up his campaign for worldwide oil sanctions against Nigeria. "I am not pessimistic. My first attempt with Prime Minister John Major was not as effective as it could be. But I have faced problems before."

"In my view we should use the strongest method to show our disgust and resentment at what he has done. We are dealing with an illegitimate, barbaric, arrogant military dictatorship which has murdered activists, using a kangaroo court and false evidence," he declared.

Mr Mandela has warned Shell to "suspend" its $3.8 billion liquefied natural gas project in Nigeria or face action against Shell in South Africa....

(The Clinton administration has decided against imposing a ban on imports of Nigerian crude oil, the Washington Post said last week, quoting administration officials.)

Source: McGreal, Chris. "More ogonis face hanging." Guardian Weekly, December 3, 1995, p.4.

Statistics

• Oil constitutes 97.6% of Nigerian exports.

Source: Le Monde, November 13, 1995, p. 2.

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