News In Brief

3 face hearing on charges of kidnapping Nigerian

Magistrates ordered three Israelis and a Nigerian to remain in custody Wednesday pending a hearing next Thursday on charges they kidnapped and drugged Nigeria's most-wanted fugitive, former Transport Minister Umaru Dikko.

The four defendants are charged with abducting Mr. Dikko from his $520,000 London home last Thursday and taking him to Stansted airport, north of London, where customs officials found him in a crate.

Scotland Yard officers told magistrates that police were seeking four other suspects.

The foreign secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, is expected to make a statement today in Parliament on what action Britain will take in response to the kidnapping incident.