Q&A
:
Simon Mann's road to freedom - 3 November
How the Old Etonian plotted a coup against Equatorial Guinea's
president, was jailed and then won a pardon. - Guardian
website
'It
has been hard without him' - 3 November
The Pretoria-based wife of the one of the South African
mercenaries pardoned for plotting to topple the government of
Equatorial Guinea, had not been informed of his impending release
on Tuesday. When contacted by Sapa, Lucia Alerson, the wife of
George Alerson, who had been locked up in one of Africa's most
notorious prisons since 2004, had no idea of the amnesty
announcement made on Tuesday. Supreme Court Chief Justice Obono
Olo said Mann and his accomplices would be freed on Tuesday
morning and flown home. The men were convicted in a trial
implicating Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, as the financier of the plot to overthrow the
oil-rich country. The South Africans involved were Nick du Toit,
Sergio Cardoso, Jose Sundays and George Alerson. - IOL
website
Beer,
biltong for freed Guinea plotter - 4 November
Beer, biltong and a Chevrolet. This is what convicted South
African mercenary Niek du Toit is looking forward to when he
returns home to South Africa this week. That, and being able to
walk his daughter, Marilise, down the aisle on her wedding day. - IOL
website
'We're
free because of Zuma' - 4 November
President Jacob Zuma played a pivotal role in the freeing of
convicted South African mercenary Niek du Toit and his four
accomplices from a notorious Equatorial Guinea prison. This was
revealed in an exclusive interview with Du Toit hours after he,
along with coup plotter Simon Mann, were freed from Black Beach
Prison yesterday. - IOL
website
Simon
Mann pardon : a South African president flies in, a famous inmate
is freed. Coincidence? - 3 November
Timing of Simon Mann's pardon and those of four South African
mercenaries looks like political expediency. Reports after Mann's
sentencing in July last year suggested he had cut a deal with
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema's regime. "He will be
pardoned within a year, two at the most", a lawyer in Malabo
told the Times. So it has come to pass. - Guardian
website
African
diplomacy helps to free Simon Mann rather than government help
- 4 November
A combination of oil, luxury property investments and
behind-the-scenes African diplomacy had more to do with Simon
Mann’s release than anything that his own government could have
done. Call it a deal, an understanding, a nod or a wink, but
however you put it the release of Mann and his accomplices suits a
number of interested parties very nicely. - Times
Online website
Mann
'felt more like guest than prisoner' - 4 November
British mercenary Simon Mann said he felt more like a guest than a
prisoner in the Equatorial Guinea jail from where he has just been
freed, he said in comments published Wednesday. Mann, who left the
African country on a private jet a day after his release, thanked
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema for his pardon over a foiled coup
plot in 2004. - IOL website
The
EG coup plot : a timeline - 3 November
News24 website
SA
mercenaries not off the hook yet - 4 November
The four South African mercenaries freed from prison in Equatorial
Guinea for a failed coup are not off the hook. The National
Prosecuting Authority last night said it was still looking into
the case and would make a decision on what action to take against
the men in due course. Though they have been pardoned in
Equatorial Guinea, the men face possible prosecution under South
Africa's tough anti-mercenary laws, including the Prohibition
of Foreign Military Assistance Act. - Times
Live website
Pardoned
Briton's joy at return - 4 November
Former British soldier Simon Mann has expressed his joy at being
freed from prison in Equatorial Guinea and said it is "the
best early Christmas present". Mann, 57, arrived at Luton
airport after being pardoned and released from a 34-year jail term
in the African state for his part in a coup plot. The former SAS
soldier also reiterated his claims that London-based Lebanese
millionaire Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former UK
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, had been involved in the plot. - BBC
News website
Friends
welcome Simon Mann's release - 3 November
Alleged conspirators in the failed coup in Equatorial Guinea today
welcomed Simon Mann's release as the Metropolitan Police confirmed
it is continuing an investigation which could ultimately lead to
some of them facing trial in British courts with Mann as a key
prosecution witness. It was reported this spring that Scotland
Yard officers had passed files to the Crown Prosecution Service
and were encouraged to seek Mann's return, to help any possible
prosecution. - Guardian
website
Simon
Mann ready to help prosecute Sir Mark Thatcher - 5 November
Simon Mann, the freed mercenary, flew back to Britain yesterday
after saying he would help to prosecute Sir Mark Thatcher and
others he claimed were involved in the failed coup on Equatorial
Guinea. - Telegraph
website
SA
mercenaries 'do not face jail' - 6 November
Four South Africa men convicted for their role in an Equatorial
Guinea coup plot will not be re-arrested when they return home on
Friday, officials say. "They have been punished for their
action," said deputy international relations minister Ibrahim
Ibrahim. - BBC News website