ABUJA. June 5: Nigeria's New President Olusegun Obasanjo set up a panel on Friday to investigate assassinations and other human rights abuses during the past five years of military rule, reports Reuters.

A statement from Obasanjo's Chief of Staff Abdullahi Mohammed. a retried general, safd the panel would determine whether the state or individuals were responsible for human rights abuses since January 1994. Obasanjo was sworn in last Saturday to end 15 years of military rule, less than a year after the death of dictator Sani Abacha made way for the latest attempt at democracy and a drastic improvement in human rights.

Obasanjo, a former military ruler who relinquished power in 1979. was among scores of political prisoners after being sentenced for.his part in an alleged coup plot against Abacha.

His deputy during his last spell in office. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, died under suspicious circumstances in prison for the same alleged plot.

The announcement of the new panel takes place exactly four years after the assassination of Kudirat Abiola, the most vocal opponent of Abacha at the time and wife of presumed election winner Moshood Abiola, who died in prison last July.