His main rival, Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, who had been the parliament's speaker, strongly opposing last year's coup, got only 16%, ahead of three other candidates.

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His successor - Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo - took over in a coup and has shown little tolerance for opposition during the three decades of his rule.

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Ordinary Nigerians, fed up with being robbed and bullied by their leaders, would probably like to see harsh punishments for the old regime, but Mr Obasanjo, a former political prisoner himself (he served three years of a 15-year sentence for allegedly plotting a coup against Abacha before the tyrant's death set him free), is inclined to be gentle.

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Last month, a Turkish court sentenced three former army generals to 20 years in jail each for plotting a coup, convicting nearly 330 officers of involvement in the plot.

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It was crushed by international sanctions, which were imposed after Mr Aristide was deposed by a military coup only nine months after his election in 1990, and before American troops reinstalled him three years later.

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