EG 'mercenary trial' date set
2004-07-30 23:09
Malabo - Fourteen alleged mercenaries, including eight South Africans, will go on trial here on August 23, charged with an attempted coup in the west African state of Equatorial Guinea, said attorney-general José Olo Obono on Friday.
The alleged coup was thwarted in March when 15 men were arrested in Malabo and another 70 in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, as their plane made a stopover, apparently to pick up weapons.
On Thursday, a Zimbabwe court adjourned until next month the trial of the 70 in Harare, who have been charged with breaking Zimbabwe's firearms, security, aviation and immigration laws.
Obono told journalists in Malabo the date for the trial in Equatorial Guinea had been fixed during three days of talks with a visiting South African delegation.
The 14 suspected mercenaries were arrested in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, on March 7. A 15th suspect, a German, died in custody a week later of cerebral malaria, according to the government.
The 14 have been charged with treason, terrorism, illegal possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives, offences against the head of state and against the government system, and offences which could compromise the peace and independence of the state.