Mandelson denies coup connection

EUROPEAN Union commissioner Peter Mandelson last night dismissed claims South African police hope to question him over an attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea.

It had been reported that detectives want to contact the politician over claims he discussed the plan to overthrow the ruling regime in the west African state with a suspect.

The EU external trade commissioner was said to have twice spoken about the British government’s attitude towards a regime change with Ely Calil, a Lebanese businessman alleged to have helped finance the action.

It also emerged that the Foreign Office was handed intelligence reports about the putsch in January, but did not inform authorities in Africa.