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| Pardoned Briton due for UK return | Pardoned Briton due for UK return |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former British soldier Simon Mann, who was jailed in Equatorial Guinea for his part in a coup plot, is expected to arrive back in the UK on Wednesday. | |
| Mann, 57, had been sentenced to 34 years in prison, but he was pardoned on Tuesday along with four South Africans. | Mann, 57, had been sentenced to 34 years in prison, but he was pardoned on Tuesday along with four South Africans. |
| He is now thought to be with his sister and brother in the capital, Malabo, awaiting a flight back to Britain. | He is now thought to be with his sister and brother in the capital, Malabo, awaiting a flight back to Britain. |
| Mann admitted conspiring to oust Equatorial Guinea's president, but said he was only "a pawn" in the plot. | Mann admitted conspiring to oust Equatorial Guinea's president, but said he was only "a pawn" in the plot. |
| In March 2004, police in Zimbabwe impounded a plane from South Africa. They arrested Mann and 63 others on board amid suspicions they were mercenaries plotting to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. | In March 2004, police in Zimbabwe impounded a plane from South Africa. They arrested Mann and 63 others on board amid suspicions they were mercenaries plotting to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. |
| The Briton served four years in a Zimbabwean jail before being extradited to Equatorial Guinea where he was tried and convicted. | The Briton served four years in a Zimbabwean jail before being extradited to Equatorial Guinea where he was tried and convicted. |
| He was sentenced to 34 years despite pleas from Mann's lawyer that he had been "not a co-author" of the coup plot but "an accomplice". | He was sentenced to 34 years despite pleas from Mann's lawyer that he had been "not a co-author" of the coup plot but "an accomplice". |
| 'Profoundly grateful' | 'Profoundly grateful' |
| On Tuesday, an adviser to President Obiang, Miguel Mifuno, said that Mann had been released on humanitarian grounds related to his health - he had a hernia operation in 2008. | On Tuesday, an adviser to President Obiang, Miguel Mifuno, said that Mann had been released on humanitarian grounds related to his health - he had a hernia operation in 2008. |
| Mr Mifuno said: "Simon Mann conducted himself in exemplary fashion during his trial and his incarceration in Equatorial Guinea. | Mr Mifuno said: "Simon Mann conducted himself in exemplary fashion during his trial and his incarceration in Equatorial Guinea. |
| "He has had some health problems, and was operated on. He is now in good health but the president thinks he should now be allowed to live in peace with his family." | "He has had some health problems, and was operated on. He is now in good health but the president thinks he should now be allowed to live in peace with his family." |
| Sources close to Mann have told the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner that his release came as a huge shock to him. | Sources close to Mann have told the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner that his release came as a huge shock to him. |
| They say negotiations have been going on for a year, but Mann knew nothing about the pardon until last week and his wife Amanda was kept in the dark until Monday evening in case it fell through. | They say negotiations have been going on for a year, but Mann knew nothing about the pardon until last week and his wife Amanda was kept in the dark until Monday evening in case it fell through. |
| In a statement earlier, his family said they were "absolutely delighted" at his release and were "profoundly grateful" to the president. | In a statement earlier, his family said they were "absolutely delighted" at his release and were "profoundly grateful" to the president. |
| Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to the UK Agustin Nze Nfumu told the BBC World Service that Mann's brother and sister had travelled to the capital to greet him ahead of his return to the UK. | Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to the UK Agustin Nze Nfumu told the BBC World Service that Mann's brother and sister had travelled to the capital to greet him ahead of his return to the UK. |
| Mann, who used to live in Beaulieu, in Hampshire, has a son, born during his time in prison, that he has never seen. | Mann, who used to live in Beaulieu, in Hampshire, has a son, born during his time in prison, that he has never seen. |
| Ongoing investigation | Ongoing investigation |
| Mann had implicated London-based Lebanese millionaire Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher, son of UK former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in the coup. | Mann had implicated London-based Lebanese millionaire Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher, son of UK former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in the coup. |
| Sources in Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command have confirmed to the BBC that police do want to talk to Mann about those claims and are still investigating whether any offences relating to the coup were committed in the UK. | Sources in Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command have confirmed to the BBC that police do want to talk to Mann about those claims and are still investigating whether any offences relating to the coup were committed in the UK. |
| 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. |
| Upon Mann's release, he said he was "delighted" that he would be reunited with his family. Mr Calil also said he was "thrilled" at the news. | Upon Mann's release, he said he was "delighted" that he would be reunited with his family. Mr Calil also said he was "thrilled" at the news. |
| 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. |