SOUTH AFRICA: A South African court will say today whether 70 men accused of planning to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea can be extradited to South Africa to stand trial, officials said yesterday.
Lawyers for 70 South Africans being held in Zimbabwe launched a bid in the Pretoria High Court last month to force South Africa to ask that they be sent home to be tried under local laws. The lawyers argue they would not get a fair trial abroad.
The men are accused of being part of another group - also including South Africans - being held in tiny oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. Both groups were arrested in March but deny the charges and say they were on their way to the Democratic Republic of Congo to guard mining operations.
Friends and family of the Zimbabwe group have urged the South African government to intervene, saying they fear Harare might extradite them to Equatorial Guinea - widely criticised for human rights abuses - where they face execution if found guilty.
South Africa has said it would let the law run its course in both countries and only take action should the men face the death penalty, which is outlawed under its constitution.
- (Reuters)