Belgium is to send the runner-up in the Miss Belgium...

Belgium is to send the runner-up in the Miss Belgium contest to the Miss World event in Nigeria after the title holder Ann Van Elsen decided to stay away from the contest to protest against the sentence of death by stoning imposed on a Nigerian woman accused of adultery. Recent conciliatory remarks by the Nigerian president have led the Miss Belgium committee to send the runner up, Sylvie Doclot, to Nigeria. Sylvie Doclot said: "I think that at present death by stoning has been lifted," she said. "Going to Nigeria to represent our country at the Miss World contest is a good thing," she added, "and moreover I think that if the Nigerian government asks us to take part in the Miss World contest in their country, this is precisely because they want to improve the condition of women in Nigeria."