Former British Special Forces officer Simon Mann, accused of leading a coup plot to topple the government in Equatorial Guinea, is to be extradited to the oil-rich West African nation.

Sixty alleged mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in the West African nation of Equatorial Guinea are due to be deported to South Africa today after spending more than a year in a Zimbabwe prison.

Most of the 70 suspected mercenaries accused of participating in a foiled plot to overthrow the government in Equatorial Guinea were acquitted today of charges that they conspired to buy weapons from Zimbabwe’s state arms manufacturer.

The government of Equatorial Guinea has asked South Africa to extradite Mark Thatcher, son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who is under house arrest for his alleged role in a coup plot against Equatorial Guinea.

Mark Thatcher, the son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was arrested today over claims that he was involved in a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.