President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed sympathy for...

President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed sympathy for Amina Lawal, the single mother condemned to death by stoning, but made no firm offer to help her escape the sentence. Mr Obasanjo's remarks were his first public reaction to a decision by an Islamic court in northern Nigeria to throw out the defendants appeal against an adultery conviction. The president said he was confident the next appeal would be successful, but left open the possibility that she might be stoned despite his government's opposition. "I don't have any fear that Amina will lose her life, but if she does I will weep for myself, I will weep for her family and I will weep for Nigeria," he said.