A trial in Africa’s biggest mercenary case in decades has opened in Equatorial Guinea, with soldiers of fortune from Europe, Africa and Asia accused in an alleged plot to take control of oil-rich country.

Prosecutors in Zimbabwe today dropped firearms charges against three of 70 suspected mercenaries who are accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea.

The alleged leader of 70 suspected mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea has pleaded guilty to attempting to buy weapons in Zimbabwe, but denied they were for use in the takeover attempt.

A former captain in the SAS, accused by Zimbabwe of leading 70 suspected mercenaries in a coup plot against Equatorial Guinea today admitted attempting to possess dangerous weapons and faces ten years in prison.

The head of the defence team for 70 suspected mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea has withdrawn from the case.

All but three of 70 suspected mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea pleaded guilty to lesser charges in Zimbabwe in hopes of early release from prison.

The trial of 70 suspected mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea was adjourned for 24 hours after a five-minute hearing in Zimbabwe today.

The trial of 70 people accused of being British-led mercenaries plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea was postponed in Zimbabwe today to allow their lawyers to appeal for the trial to be moved, court officials said.

Sixty-seven suspected mercenaries detained in Zimbabwe along with their three-man flight crew face additional charges of plotting to kill the president of the oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, their lawyer said today.