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| Judges seek warrant for Equatorial Guinea leader's son | Judges seek warrant for Equatorial Guinea leader's son |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| French judges have requested an international arrest warrant for the son of the president of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, reports say. | French judges have requested an international arrest warrant for the son of the president of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, reports say. |
| Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, known in his country and internationally as Teodorin, is being sought on money-laundering charges. | |
| The two judges are investigating allegations that several African leaders bought assets in France with embezzled state funds. | The two judges are investigating allegations that several African leaders bought assets in France with embezzled state funds. |
| Mr Obiang, the son of President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo, denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Obiang, the son of President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo, denies any wrongdoing. |
| It is not yet known whether prosecutors have assented to the request, according to judicial sources. | It is not yet known whether prosecutors have assented to the request, according to judicial sources. |
| French investigating judges Roger Le Loire and Rene Grouman asked for the warrant after Equatorial Guinea's government denied a request to question Mr Obiang, who is known as Teodorin in his country. | French investigating judges Roger Le Loire and Rene Grouman asked for the warrant after Equatorial Guinea's government denied a request to question Mr Obiang, who is known as Teodorin in his country. |
| Correspondents say Teodorin Obiang, who serves as agriculture minister, is known for his lavish lifestyle. | Correspondents say Teodorin Obiang, who serves as agriculture minister, is known for his lavish lifestyle. |
| He recently hit the headlines when he honoured his promise to pay his national football team $1m (£641,000) for winning the opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations which Equatorial Guinea co-hosted earlier this year. | |
| Fine wines and artworks | |
| Olivier Pardo, a lawyer for Equatorial Guinea, told the Reuters news agency that the decision to seek a warrant was "absurd". | Olivier Pardo, a lawyer for Equatorial Guinea, told the Reuters news agency that the decision to seek a warrant was "absurd". |
| Last month, police raided a property in an expensive district of Paris as part of the investigation, confiscating fine wines and artworks said to be worth millions of dollars. | Last month, police raided a property in an expensive district of Paris as part of the investigation, confiscating fine wines and artworks said to be worth millions of dollars. |
| The original legal complaint was brought by Transparency International, an anti-corruption campaign group that accuses several African leaders of acquiring property, cars and luxury items in France using misappropriated public money. | The original legal complaint was brought by Transparency International, an anti-corruption campaign group that accuses several African leaders of acquiring property, cars and luxury items in France using misappropriated public money. |
| In October 2011, the US government said it would seek to recover assets worth more $70m (£44m) from Teodorin Obiang. A month earlier, French police seized several luxury cars from him. | In October 2011, the US government said it would seek to recover assets worth more $70m (£44m) from Teodorin Obiang. A month earlier, French police seized several luxury cars from him. |
| The French judges' investigation also involves Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso. | The French judges' investigation also involves Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso. |
| Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa's largest oil exporters, but most of its 720,000-strong population lives in poverty. | Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa's largest oil exporters, but most of its 720,000-strong population lives in poverty. |
| President Obiang seized power from his uncle in 1979 and was re-elected last year with 95% of the vote. | President Obiang seized power from his uncle in 1979 and was re-elected last year with 95% of the vote. |