Zimbabwe frees dozens of alleged mercenaries
BEITBRIDGE BORDER POST, South Africa (Reuters) -- Zimbabwe has freed 62 men linked to a plot to overthrow the government of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea that also implicated the son of Britain's former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The group was released late on Saturday after serving sentences for weapons and immigration offences. The men, who were arrested after their plane was impounded in Harare in March 2004, were not directly charged with the coup conspiracy.
All 62 were travelling on South African passports when they were detained, although many were originally from Namibia and Angola.
Three crossed the border into South Africa earlier on Sunday, but the group's lawyer said the rest were held for questioning by immigration officials.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation reported that all were eventually allowed to cross after proving they had valid South African passports. Two were taken to hospital, but it was not clear why.
"Prison conditions were very bad, but I have no regrets about what I did," said one of the men, Bruce Du Preez, looking tired and disheveled. He did not elaborate.
The men could face an uncertain future in South Africa, which has strict laws against mercenary activity.
Their sentences expired last week, but their release was delayed because of security issues surrounding their deportation.
Thatcher's son Mark pleaded guilty in South Africa earlier this year to violating anti-mercenary laws under a deal with prosecutors to avoid jail. But he denied financing a coup plot.
The leader of the group arrested in Zimbabwe, Briton Simon Mann, was jailed for four years on weapons charges. Two South African pilots are serving out the last two months of their sentences.
When arrested the men said they had been heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo to provide mine security services and denied involvement in any conspiracy.
Equatorial Guinea sentenced 11 foreigners in November to between 14 and 34 years on charges of trying to overthrow the country's president. Prosecutors linked the charges to the Zimbabwe case.