British mercenary goes on trial over EGuinea coup plot

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

MALABO (AFP) — British mercenary Simon Mann goes on trial Tuesday in Equatorial Guinea for allegedly plotting to oust the oil-rich country's iron-fisted ruler -- a charge that could carry the death penalty.

Other well-connected Britons such as Mark Thatcher, the son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, and London-based millionaire businessman Ely Calil, have been linked to the failed coup bid.

Mann -- the heir to a brewing fortune who was educated at Eton and served in Britain's Special Air Services (SAS) after training at the prestigious British military academy Sandhurst -- was secretly extradited to Equatorial Guinea this year from Zimbabwe.

The 55-year-old had been arrested in 2004 at Harare's international airport with 61 alleged...