"Mercenaries" go on trial in Equatorial Guinea

[seemslikeadream]

23 Aug 2004 12:53:48 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Antoine Lawson

LIBREVILLE, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Fourteen suspected mercenaries went on trial in Equatorial Guinea on Monday accused of plotting to topple the oil-rich nation's president with the help of 70 men detained in Zimbabwe, officials said.

The eight South Africans and six Armenians were arrested in March and accused of going to Equatorial Guinea's capital Malabo as an advance party to prepare the ground for the arrival of a plane with the second group of men and weapons.

An official at the justice ministry said the trial had opened on Monday morning in Malabo in a conference hall specially prepared for the hearings.

Obiang, who seized power in a 1979 coup, has said foreign countries and companies were conspiring to replace him with Severo Moto, who heads a government-in-exile in Spain.
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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23651532.htm
Journalists denied visas to attend coup trial
Peter Fabricius
August 23 2004 at 01:01PM

The government of Equatorial Guinea has denied South African journalists and some legal watchdogs visas to travel to the country to observe the trial of alleged South African mercenaries. The trial was due to start on Monday.

This despite promises to the South African government that it would grant access to media and lawyers' bodies to ensure the trial was fair and transparent.

Fifteen alleged mercenaries - including eight South Africans - are being tried for plotting a coup against the government of President Obiang Nguema. Another 70 men are being tried in Zimbabwe for involvement in the same plot. They were arrested in Harare allegedly en route to Equatorial Guinea.

Mbeki met Obiang in Pretoria in July and, according to Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the two presidents agreed that South Africa would send a team, possibly including officials from the departments of justice, foreign affairs, correctional services and safety and security, to ensure a fair trial for the accused.
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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=vn20040823124409825C731900


'Mercenaries' coup trial begins


The men are accused of plotting to overthrow President Nguema
The trial of 14 men arrested on suspicion of plotting to topple the Equatorial Guinea president has begun in the capital, Malabo.
Eight South Africans and six Armenians have been detained since March.

A 15th defendant died in prison from what Amnesty International said was suspected torture.

They are accused of being the advance-party for a group of 70 men whose trial in connection with the alleged plot ended in Zimbabwe last week.

The prosecutor is expected to call for the death penalty for the alleged leader of the group, Nick du Toit.
more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3590304.stm