Sixty men linked to an alleged coup plot in Equatorial Guinea are due to be deported
from Zimbabwe to South Africa after more than a year in custody.

Defence lawyer Alwyn Griebenow said they would be taken by bus from Harare to Beit
Bridge border crossing, where immigration officials will meet them.

They are in good health apart from one with tuberculosis, he added.

Coup charges against the men were not proven, but they were convicted of breaking
Zimbabwe's immigration laws.

They will be reunited with their families before facing possible charges in South
Africa, their lawyer said.

The alleged ring-leader of the plot, Briton Simon Mann, and the two pilots of the
plane, remain in prison in Zimbabwe on longer sentences.

Weapons question

The men being released had been travelling on South African passports when they were
arrested in March 2004 after their chartered plane touched down at Harare airport to
pick up weapons.


Zimbabwean prosecutors said they had been en-route to Equatorial Guinea to overthrow
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in the oil-rich country.
The men said the weapons were to be used for guarding diamond mines in Democratic
Republic of Congo.

In Equatorial Guinea, 14 other people have been found guilty of charges linked to the
coup plot, including plot leader Nick du Toit who received 34 years.

Sir Mark Thatcher, the son of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was given a
suspended jail term in South Africa and fined after agreeing a plea bargain to help
investigators.

Previous reports said that there were 62 prisoners due for release but latest reports
refer to 60.

Under South African law, they could be charged with engaging in military activities
abroad without official permission.

Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/f...538707.stm

Published: 2005/05/12 00:15:31 GMT

C BBC MMV

Frank,

Intrested as a friend of mine Ramond Archer a South African White was one of the guy's.

Gibbo