ZIMBABWE: A Zimbabwe magistrate yesterday postponed until August 18th the trial of 70 suspected mercenaries accused of plotting a coup against oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.
Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe said he was giving the state and defence time to organise their arguments, and expected the case to "move to finality" when it resumes.
The man regarded as the leader of the group, Mr Simon Mann, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to attempting to possess dangerous weapons, a charge brought under Zimbabwe's strict security laws which could bring up to 10 years in jail.
Mr Mann, a former member of Britain's elite Special Air Service commando force who holds British and South African citizenship, denied actually purchasing the weapons.