LAGOS, May 10: A treason trial in which several dissidents could face the death penalty has begun in the absence of many of the defendants.

In the United States, exiled playwright Wole Soyinka said he and other dissidents facing treason charges in Nigeria refused to recognize the courts under the control of the military government of Gen Sani Abacha.

``I know that Abacha is prepared to go ahead with this charade of a trial,'' said Soyinka, who was in New York for a Nigerian pro-democracy meeting. As far as the democratic opposition is concerned, we do not recognise his courts or his regime.

Our position is that it's he and his cohorts who should be on trial for treason against Nigeria.''

The trial formally began yesterday, then adjourned until Tuesday, when the court was expected to debate whether to continue the proceedings.

Journalists were not allowed into the courtroom, but relatives of some of the dissidents were reported entering and leaving the building.

Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1986, fled his homeland more than two years ago after learning that authorities planned to arrest him for criticizing military rule.

``We totally ignore these proceedings, it's a diversion,'' he said of the trial that began yesterday. Of course, we're concerned with the fate of those who are in Abacha's hands.''

A year ago, Soyinka joined Nigerian opposition groups who met in Norway and agreed to form a united front against the Abacha regime. But he said their strategy did not include an armed rebellion. Abacha drew strong international condemnation for the November 1995 execution of another prominent playwright and dissident, Saro-Wiwa, who was hanged along with eight other dissident.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.