UK: Equatorial Guinea's state prosecutor demanded the death penalty yesterday for a South African accused of plotting to topple the president of sub-Saharan Africa's third-biggest oil producer.
Summing up the case against the 19 suspected mercenaries, state prosecutor Mr Jose Olo Obono said the group was working for international financiers seeking to put exiled politician Mr Severo Moto in power.
Equatorial Guinea says the plot was organised by Mr Simon Mann, a former British special forces officer who was jailed by Zimbabwe in August on charges related to the alleged coup.
Mr Obono told the court he wanted the death penalty for South African Mr Nick du Toit, who was in court flanked by four armed guards with his hands and feet shackled, and for Mr Moto, who is being tried in absentia.
Fourteen people, including Sir Mark Thatcher, the son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, are listed in court documents read out by Mr Obono as financiers of the plot.
Sir Mark is accused of stumping up $275,000. Lebanese oil tycoon Mr Eli Calil is alleged to have given $750,000 and a number of other British businessmen are included in the list. Mr Mark and Mr Calil have denied any involvement.
Equatorial Guinea has also not yet decided whether to ask for Sir Mark's extradition from South Africa.
Sir Mark is due to appear in a Cape Town court next Friday to answer questions from Equatorial Guinea about the alleged plot.