SINGAPORE. AMNESTY ASKS SINGAPORE NOT TO HANG TWO AFRICAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS

Amnesty International said it had written to Singapore President S.R. Nathan asking him to intervene to stop a Nigerian and a South African convicted of drug trafficking from being hanged. The pair lost their final appeal against the death sentence in March and only a presidential offer of clemency can save them from the gallows, the London-based human rights group's Hong Kong office said in a statement. The statement identified the two as Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi, 19, of Nigeria and Okele Nelson Malachy, 33, believed to be from South Africa. Both were arrested on November 27, 2004 at Singapore's Changi airport while attempting to smuggle more than 700 grams (25 ounces) of heroin, Amnesty said.
"As a matter of urgency, we fervently hope that President S.R. Nathan will grant clemency in this case and commute the sentences meted out to the two men," the statement said.