Alleged Mercenary Leader Convicted

Associated Press
Friday November 26, 2004 2:46 PM

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) – An alleged mercenary leader was
convicted Friday of leading a coup attempt in this oil-rich African
nation, but he avoided the death penalty when the court sentenced
him to 34 years in prison.

Prosecutors had formally asked for the death penalty against Nick du
Toit, the South African arms dealer it says led an advance team for
an internationally backed plot to overthrow the government.

Mark Thatcher, the 51-year-old son of former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, has been charged in South Africa with violating
the country’s anti-mercenary laws by allegedly helping finance the
foiled coup attempt.

Thatcher also faces charges in Equatorial Guinea and officials there
have said they will seek his extradition from South Africa.

Six South African and six Armenians also were convicted and drew
prison terms, three South Africans and three Equatorial Guinea citizens
were acquitted.