I refer to Ledum Mitee's editorial on the democratic process in Nigeria (Pambazuka News 94), and I'm sure he's right that there are flaws, but don't let any of us get too carried away with criticising the nations of Africa.

Democracy is very new in Africa and the old nations of Europe and America don't have a flawless record. In the UK we have a government with an overwhelming majority based on less than 50% of the vote, and in the USA we have a President elected with fewer votes than his opponent by virtue of a deeply flawed process in Florida, a state run by his brother.

No system is perfect. The important issue is that we continue to hold all of the systems up to the light of public scrutiny.

David Jamieson, United Kingdom