SOUTH AFRICA: The family of Sir Mark Thatcher, who was arrested in South Africa last week on suspicion of financing a coup attempt in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, left his Cape Town home yesterday bound for the United States.
The 51-year-old son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher is effectively under house arrest in the plush residence until he pays a two million rand (€247,000) bond.
Sir Mark has denied involvement in the plot.
His acquaintance Simon Mann, a former British special forces officer, was convicted in Zimbabwe on Friday on weapons charges linked to the suspected coup.
Sir Mark's Texan wife Diane and two children left their house yesterday evening, speeding past waiting journalists and through rush hour traffic in a luxury four-wheel-drive vehicle with darkened windows, escorted by guards in a second vehicle.
Followed on their high-speed journey by a media convoy, the family drove to Cape Town airport's international terminal, where they were taken to the check-in desks and away from the cameras.
Meanwhile, South Africa charged two of its nationals under anti-mercenary laws yesterday, three days after they were freed by a Zimbabwean court hearing accusations they were plotting the coup in Equatorial Guinea, their lawyer said.
"They have been charged under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act. They will receive a summons to appear in court, most probably next week," their lawyer said after meeting police in Pretoria.