This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8339372.stm
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| E Guinea grants pardon for Mann | E Guinea grants pardon for Mann |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former British soldier Simon Mann, sentenced to 34 years for a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, has been pardoned by the country's president. | |
| An adviser to the president, Miguel Mifuno, told BBC News that Mann had to leave the country within 24 hours. | |
| The Foreign Office said it understood the release was a personal decision by the president on humanitarian grounds. | The Foreign Office said it understood the release was a personal decision by the president on humanitarian grounds. |
| Mann, who was sentenced in July 2008, admitted conspiring to oust President Teodoro Obiang Nguema during his trial. | Mann, who was sentenced in July 2008, admitted conspiring to oust President Teodoro Obiang Nguema during his trial. |
| Mr Mifuno said Mann had been released on humanitarian grounds related to his health. Mann had a hernia operation in 2008. | |
| 'Compassionate grounds' | 'Compassionate grounds' |
| The adviser also told BBC News Nick du Toit, a South African convicted for taking part in the attempted coup, had also been pardoned. | The adviser also told BBC News Nick du Toit, a South African convicted for taking part in the attempted coup, had also been pardoned. |
| He said the releases were timed to coincide with a visit to Equatorial Guinea by South African President Jacob Zuma. | |
| Antony Goldman,Equatorial Guinea analyst | Antony Goldman,Equatorial Guinea analyst |
| Friends of Simon Mann have been hinting quietly for some weeks that his release might be imminent. | Friends of Simon Mann have been hinting quietly for some weeks that his release might be imminent. |
| But the apparent timing, three weeks ahead of presidential elections in Equatorial Guinea, would be something of a surprise in a country where officials constantly fear concessions might be interpreted as weakness. | But the apparent timing, three weeks ahead of presidential elections in Equatorial Guinea, would be something of a surprise in a country where officials constantly fear concessions might be interpreted as weakness. |
| The 2004 African mercenary escapade in which Mann was the central player was marked by intrigue, betrayal and deceit - and that was just on the part of the plotters. | The 2004 African mercenary escapade in which Mann was the central player was marked by intrigue, betrayal and deceit - and that was just on the part of the plotters. |
| If he is out and free to speak his mind, probably he alone will be able to explain what went on, why it failed and who was to blame. | If he is out and free to speak his mind, probably he alone will be able to explain what went on, why it failed and who was to blame. |
| Equatorial Guinea's Supreme Court Judge told the BBC that Mann would be leaving jail on Tuesday and his family were due out on Tuesday morning. | Equatorial Guinea's Supreme Court Judge told the BBC that Mann would be leaving jail on Tuesday and his family were due out on Tuesday morning. |
| Justice Obono Olo also said he had met Mann in the past few days and said he was, "in good health." | Justice Obono Olo also said he had met Mann in the past few days and said he was, "in good health." |
| The Ministry of Information statement said Mann was being pardoned on compassionate grounds, due to his need to have regular medical treatment. | The Ministry of Information statement said Mann was being pardoned on compassionate grounds, due to his need to have regular medical treatment. |
| BBC Africa bureaux editor, Sara Halfpenny, said Mann was very unlikely to travel to Johannesburg as he ran the risk of being arrested under the South Africa Mercenary Act. | BBC Africa bureaux editor, Sara Halfpenny, said Mann was very unlikely to travel to Johannesburg as he ran the risk of being arrested under the South Africa Mercenary Act. |
| Scotland Yard wanted to talk to Mann about possible involvement of Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher in the coup, she added. | Scotland Yard wanted to talk to Mann about possible involvement of Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher in the coup, she added. |
| In March 2004, Mann and 63 others were arrested in Zimbabwe on board a plane which arrived from South Africa. Its destination was Equatorial Guinea. | In March 2004, Mann and 63 others were arrested in Zimbabwe on board a plane which arrived from South Africa. Its destination was Equatorial Guinea. |
| His extradition came after he had served four years in prison in Zimbabwe for trying to purchase weapons without a licence. | His extradition came after he had served four years in prison in Zimbabwe for trying to purchase weapons without a licence. |
| Equatorial Guinea, an oil-rich former Spanish colony, has been ruled by President Obiang since he seized power from his uncle in 1979. | Equatorial Guinea, an oil-rich former Spanish colony, has been ruled by President Obiang since he seized power from his uncle in 1979. |
| Mann's lawyer had asked for leniency, saying his client was a pawn of powerful international businessmen and he had been "not a co-author" of the coup plot but "an accomplice". | Mann's lawyer had asked for leniency, saying his client was a pawn of powerful international businessmen and he had been "not a co-author" of the coup plot but "an accomplice". |
| The former special forces officer apologised, saying he was not the most senior coup plotter. | The former special forces officer apologised, saying he was not the most senior coup plotter. |
| Mann had implicated Sir Mark Thatcher, son of UK former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and London-based millionaire Eli Calil as organisers of the plot. | Mann had implicated Sir Mark Thatcher, son of UK former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and London-based millionaire Eli Calil as organisers of the plot. |
| Sir Mark, who now lives in southern Spain, was fined and received a suspended sentence in South Africa in 2005 for unknowingly helping to finance the plot. | Sir Mark, who now lives in southern Spain, was fined and received a suspended sentence in South Africa in 2005 for unknowingly helping to finance the plot. |
| After Mann's verdict, Sir Mark reiterated to the BBC that he had had no direct involvement. He said he had known nothing about any plan to overthrow the government and added that he had already faced justice in South Africa. | After Mann's verdict, Sir Mark reiterated to the BBC that he had had no direct involvement. He said he had known nothing about any plan to overthrow the government and added that he had already faced justice in South Africa. |