Hernia op for jailed mercenary

2008-11-28 11:42

Malabo - British mercenary Simon Mann, jailed for 34 years for leading an abortive coup in Equatorial Guinea, has undergone a hernia operation, a prison source told AFP Thursday.

"Simon Mann had suffered a hernia for a long time. He had successful surgery some weeks ago. He is doing well," the source said, without specifying where the operation took place.

During his Malabo trial in June it was noted that Mann, who was visibly thinner, kept his hands tucked under his lower stomach when he stood up.

At his Harare trial after his arrest in Zimbabwe and before he was extradicted to Equatorial Guinea last February, Mann's lawyer said he was "too ill to be expelled".

The former special forces officer, who attended Britain's famed Eton school and Sandhurst military academy, was sentenced July to 34 years in jail for leading a failed attempt to oust President Teodoro Obiang Nguema in 2004.

On Wednesday the president said Mann could be transferred home if Britain arrests other coup suspects like Sir Mark Thatcher - the son of former prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher.

- AFP