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SA man 'tortured to death'
18/03/2004 13:52 - (SA)
Madrid - A South African mercenary suspected of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea has been tortured to death in the tiny Central African country, the Spanish daily El Pais reported Thursday.
Nick du Toit, 48, was detained earlier this month along with 15 other foreigners on charges of plotting a coup against President Teodoro Obiang in an attempt to replace him with opposition politician Severo Moto, who lives in Spain.
About 70 suspected mercenaries were also detained at Harare airport in Zimbabwe. Moto has denied allegations that he wanted to take power in the oil-rich former Spanish colony of 500 000 residents.
Du Toit has been described as the leader of the alleged mercenaries arrested in Equatorial Guinea.
El Pais said he co-owned a security company with Obiang's brother Armengol. Several of Obiang's brothers are believed to be engaged in a power struggle with his son Teodorin.
El Pais said the coup rumours have sparked a wave of xenophobia in Equatorial Guinea, with Ghana and Nigeria taking measures to repatriate their citizens.
South African foreign affairs officials said they could neither confirm nor deny the El Pais report.
South African ambassador to Gabon, Mokgethi Monaisa, travelled overnight to Equatorial Guinea where he is to look at the case.
- dpa
- SAPA
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