In response to criticism of his previous softly-softly tactics, Mr Mandela said: "I think I've handled this correctly. I have no regrets at all."The White House spokesman, Mike McCurry, said President Clinton had directed the US ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, to begin consultations immediately on appropriate UN measures to condemn the executions.A senior White House official said an oil embargo was not under consideration - the US is the main market for Nigerian exports - but it was possible Ms Albright would seek support for measures "which could affect their oil industry". Coming as the Commonwealth leaders were about to depart for their informal weekend "retreat", the news left them exposed to accusations that they had not done enough to put pressure on the Nigerian regime.Before departing for the retreat, John Major said Saro-Wiwa's case was "a fraudulent trial, followed by judicial murder" - and called, in effect, for Nigeria to be expelled from the Commonwealth. This, he said, was an "acid test" for the Commonwealth, and its stand on human rights. "I do not see how Nigeria can stay in the Commonwealth, until they return to democratic government."President Nelson Mandela also condemned the "heinous act", and said South Africa would recommend the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth and other international bodies, "pending the installation of a democratic government". But the Commonwealth heads of government summit in New Zealand was thrown into disarray.

Britain recalled Thorold Masefield, the High Commissioner in Lagos, for "urgent consultations", while President Bill Clinton withdrew the US ambassador and halted military sales to the country. They were buried at the city cemetery.The prison was heavily guarded by anti-riot police, backed up by tanks. Soldiers were also posted in two southern states, and at major oil refineries around Nigeria.The executions caused international outrage. "It is all over," said Saro-Wiwa's wife, Hauwa.Hundreds of people lined the streets in anticipation of the executions and wept uncontrollably when prison officials came out with the corpses of the men four hours later. STEVE CRAWSHAW Auckland and KARL MAIERIgnoring appeals from around the world, Nigeria's military regime yesterday hanged Ken Saro-Wiwa, the author and playwright, and eight other activists in the south-eastern city of Port Harcourt.The state-owned News Agency of Nigeria reported that all nine men had been executed at around 10.30am British time. "The argument for any form of physical decommissioning becomes a nonsense while such threats remain against the loyalist people."Splinter threat, page 4. It is clear that this incident represents the intention of at least one republican group to effect an initiation of conflict," he said.

The Carrickmacross incident may now lead to a hardening of attitudes.The Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, said the discovery of the bomb underscored the need for continuing vigilance and "vindicates our approach of a positive, flexible yet measured security response to the ceasefires, taking into account circumstances in particular areas".Gary McMichael,

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leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, closely linked to the loyalist Ulster Defence Association, said the discovery of the bomb was a matter of "extreme concern"."This is the most serious development since the ceasefires and throws a shadow over the peace process. Irish army explosives experts found 1,300lb of home-made explosives in the van and a further 700lb in a nearby building.The interception showed the effectivness of Garda surveillance on the dissident republicans, but it also demonstrated that the INRA is intent on disrupting the IRA cessation of violence which has been in place since August 1994.The exact extent of the INRA threat is unclear since the organisation has never issued a public statement. Mr O Bradaigh yesterday denied that his party had a military wing, though he supported the use of force and seemed primarily concerned to convey that Gardai had got the name of the INRA wrong.The peace process already appears in deep trouble since no progress is evident on the de-commissioning issue which has for months held up the opening of all-party talks. RSF is led by Ruairi O Bradaigh, the one-time president of Sinn Fein who opposes the peace process and disapproves of the IRA cessation.Gardai moved in on the van in the border area of Carrickmacross yesterday morning, arresting two men at the scene and a third later in the day.