South African coup plot arms found

South African police today unearthed a large arms cache on a farm in the north of the country, believed to belong to a right wing group plotting to overthrow the government.

The cache, buried near the town of Nylstroom, 125 miles north of Johannesburg, included 16 powerful home-made bombs, thousands of rounds of ammunition and dozens of home-made hand grenades, said Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

The bombs, made from ammonia nitrate, were similar to those discovered in the possession of members of a right wing group who were arrested last month.

Police believe the group was plotting to disrupt last month’s UN World Summit in Johannesburg.

Twelve men, who police describe as a “maverick, isolated group intending to destabilise the country,” have been charged with treason and are due to go on trial in the Pretoria High Court next year.

The men intended taking control of the government and chase all blacks out of the country, according to court documents.

Selebi declined to say whether more arrests were made today.