UK Suspect Says Others Led African Coup Plot

fivefifths

UK suspect says others led African coup plot


By RODRIGO ANGUE NGUEMA – Jun 19, 2008


MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — A British ex-military officer told an African court on Thursday that he was only a junior member of a team that planned to overthrow Equatorial Guinea's government in 2004.


The argument — the key to defendant Simon Mann's defense — was laid out by his lawyers on the third day of his trial in the Central African nation.


Mann, 55, is accused of planning to topple the longtime dictator ofAfrica's third-biggest oil producer, President Teodoro Obiang]




Prosecutors say Mann was the ringleader of a coup plot financed by Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.




The government says Mann hoped to install an exiled opposition leader who would give them access to the tiny nation's oil wealth.




Mann said Wednesday that he knowingly agreed to take part in the coup, and apologized for his role. On Thursday, he repeated the apology in court, but said he was not a key member of the plot.


"I'm very sorry for it. I regret it very much," Mann said.


Mann said Nigerian-born British businessman Eli Calil "was very much the boss. So nothing could happen without Calil telling me yes or no." Calil has denied involvement in such a plot.


Mann earlier testified that Thatcher was not only a financer but an integral part of the group.



Thatcher pleaded guilty in a South African court several years ago to unwittingly helping bankroll the operation. He was fined and given a suspended sentence.


Calil did not invite Mann to a key meeting in Beirut to draw up a document that would serve as Equatorial Guinea's new constitution because he considered the Brition too "junior," Mann testified. He added that if the coup had been successful, he would only have been named security manager, while Calil stood to become the new president's righthand man.


Mann appeared calm as he stood answering questions, his hands held in front of him.
Mann was extradited to Spanish-speaking Equatorial Guinea in January from Zimbabwe, where he had already served about four years in prison. The extradition agreement prohibits the death penalty, but Mann could face 30 years in prison if convicted.


The morning session continued with testimony from Lebanese businessman Mohamed Salaam, who said he also was part of the plot. It was not immediately clear if Salaam has been charged.


Electric power failed part way through Salaam's testimony and the courtroom was plunged into darkness. But the trial continued into the muggy late morning with curtains pulled back to let in sunlight and without microphones or air conditioning.
Court reconvened in the afternoon for further testimony and evidence. Officials had said they expected a verdict Thursday, but a number of witnesses have yet to be called.


Equatorial Guinea has been working to prosecute those involved in the alleged coup plot since soon after the 2004 arrest of Mann and a planeload of 70 others in Zimbabwe, where they are said to have flown to collect weapons bought from Zimbabwe's state arms manufacturer.


The first trial, in August 2004, resulted in a 34-year prison sentence for South African arms dealer Nick Du Toit.


Rights groups have said past trials were flawed and partial, with detainees allegedly tortured in jail and the prosecution offering bribes and inducements for defendants willing to incriminate others.


Equatorial Guinea has enormous oil reserves but many of its people remain poor.



Obiang seized control of the nation in a 1979 coup and his government is considered to be among the continent's worst violators of human rights.


In court Wednesday, Mann said U.S. and European powers knew of the plan to remove Obiang — and welcomed it.



http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j...pGYeAD91DAG600