The unexpected death of Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha brings an end to the most brutal and corrupt tyrant in Nigeria's history. Since his illegal seizure of power in November 1993, Abacha ruled through terror and torture, killing, jailing and exiling thousands of his fellow citizens, and impoverishing millions through wholesale corruption, crony capitalism and gross economic mismanagement. He will not be missed.

We urge the Nigerian army and the newly named military ruler, General Abdusalam Abubakar, to seize this opportunity to repudiate Abacha's repressive policies and step back from the brink of civil war and confrontation. We call on General Abubakar to release all Nigerian political prisoners, abandon Abacha's fraudulent and discredited electoral charade and begin talks with the democracy movement on an immediate transfer of power to imprisoned President-elect Moshood Abiola. We remind the Nigerian military that they are responsible for the health and safety of political prisoners until their release.

The future of Nigeria's 110 million people and of the entire west African region now hangs in the balance. In the next few days the country's new military rulers must choose between democracy or dictatorship, civil conflict or social development. Unambiguous U.S. support for democracy backed by economic sanctions can tip the balance decisively in favor of freedom, because the United States purchases nearly half of the oil exports that the military depend on for survival.

But the Clinton Administration still refuses to use its economic leverage for democracy, pursuing instead a cynical "constructive engagement" policy which allows for continued military rule. Constructive engagement is an affront to American principles and a betrayal of the Nigerian people. Yet even after the dictator's death, the White House continues to support a fraudulent army-controlled election process that has been rejected by the democratic movement and denounced by the international human rights community.

There is no need for any further "transitions" to a democracy that never arrives, and no reason for another Presidential election while an elected President languishes in jail. What is required to resolve the current crisis is for General Abubakar to transfer power to the elected President and return his army to barracks. We urge President Clinton to bury constructive engagement with the dictator Abacha, and put America decisively on the side of freedom.