Alleged mercenaries accused of Equatorial Guinea coup bid

By The Associated Press and Reuters

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Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said at a news conference in Harare that British, American and Spanish officials had persuaded Equatorial Guinea's police and military chiefs to cooperate with the coup plotters against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Most suspects were arrested after arriving on a jet in Harare, Zimbabwe, allegedly to pick up weapons before heading to Equatorial Guinea. Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge said they could face the death penalty.

Equatorial Guinea, which has arrested what it called an advance party of 15 mercenaries, said "enemy powers" and multinational companies had been plotting against the small oil-producing central African state.

Twenty South Africans, 18 Namibians, 23 Angolans, two Congolese and one Zimbabwean carrying a South African passport were arrested Sunday when their aging Boeing 727 was impounded at Harare International Airport.

A suspect named Simon Mann, who was detained in Zimbabwe as he waited to meet the plane, was cooperating with investigators and had supplied details of the men's plans, said Zimbabwean Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi. Zimbabwean officials previously identified Mann as a member of Britain's elite Special Air Service, a commando unit.

Mohadi said the plane had traveled from the west African state of Sao Tome and Principe to South Africa, where it collected its passengers.

It then stopped in Zimbabwe, allegedly to meet two co-conspirators and collect weapons purchased from the state arms manufacturer, before continuing to Equatorial Guinea.

Britain's Foreign Office said yesterday it was aware of the allegation that British SAS forces were involved in the Equatorial Guinea plot. British officials in Harare attended a briefing with Zimbabwe's foreign minister, a spokeswoman said. She had no further details. U.S. and Spanish officials could not be reached for comment.

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