Resolution on the situation in Niger

(original French)

Considering that the regime of General Baré has resulted from a coup d'état which put an end to an authentic democratic experience;

Considering the serious dictatorial character that this regime has assumed as from Saturday 11 January 1997;

Considering the legitimacy and the legality of the demands of the member parties of the Front for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy;

The Council of the Socialist International meeting in Rome on 21-22 January 1997:

Strongly condemns the imprisonment of the leaders of the opposition parties as well as the many arrests carried out without any legal foundation;

Rejects all recourse to special tribunals to judge citizens whose only fault has been to organise a legal peaceful demonstration;

Demands the immediate release of all political prisoners, especially of Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Party for Democracy and Socialism of Niger, PNDS;

Demands that all democratic governments use their influence to convince the government to return Niger to democratic rule and to respect human rights.