SA court drops (Eq. Guinea) coup plot charges (BBC)

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Friday, 23 February 2007, 12:49 GMT

SA court drops coup plot charges

A South African court has dismissed charges against eight suspected mercenaries
accused of planning a coup in Equatorial Guinea in 2004.

The judge in Pretoria said the state had not proved its case against the defendants
- all South Africans.

Their lawyers had said South African officials had tacitly backed the failed plot.
The government denies this.

The eight were among a group of men arrested in 2004 in Zimbabwe, allegedly on
their way to Equatorial Guinea.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6389623.stm

(Agence France-Presse)

South African mercenaries acquitted over E. Guinea coup plot

46 minutes ago

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Eight South Africans accused of trying to overthrow the
government of Equatorial Guinea have been found not guilty in a Pretoria court
Friday.

-snip-

Raymond Archer, Victor Dracula, Neves Matias, Mazanga Kashama, Louis du Preez,
Errol Harris, Maitre Ruakuluka and Simon Witherspoon were among 61 arrested at
Harare airport on March 7, 2004 after their plane landed, allegedly to pick up
weapons for a coup to oust Equatorial Guinea's iron-fisted ruler Teodoro Obiang
Nguema.

-snip-

Upon their return to South Africa the men were charged with contravening the
military assistance act.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/wl_africa_afp/safricaeguineatrial_070223125329