EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Equatorial Guinea's state prosecutor said yesterday he would ask South Africa to extradite Sir Mark Thatcher, son of the former British prime minister, Baroness Thatcher, to answer accusations that he helped fund a coup plot.
Mr Jose Olo Obono's comments at a news conference contradicted a statement earlier this week by the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfube, who said the government would await Sir Mark's appearance in court in South Africa next week before making any decision.
It was not the first time that the prosecutor's office and the government have differed over whether to ask for the extradition.
Sir Mark was named as one of several financiers of a scheme to oust the oil-rich country's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo detailed in court documents read out this week at the trial of 16 suspected mercenaries accused of involvement in the plot. Prosecutors say he provided $275,000, although Sir Mark denies any involvement.
Mr Obono said the country planned to ask for the extradition of all those based abroad believed to have had a significant role in the alleged plot. He named Sir Mark and a Lebanese oil tycoon, Mr Eli Calil, among others.
Asked exactly when the request would be made, he replied: "We cannot say if it will happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, but we are in the process of asking for it."
Sir Mark was arrested at his Cape Town home on August 25th on suspicion of involvement in the plot. He is due to appear in a Cape Town court next Friday to answer questions from Equatorial Guinea about the alleged plot.
He is also due to attend a court hearing next week at which he faces charges under South Africa's anti-mercenary law.