Zimbabwe releases, deports mercenaries (EQ coup gang)

[struggle4progress]

AP
Monday, May 16, 2005



HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Sixty-one accused mercenaries held in Zimbabwe for more than a year because of their alleged involvement in a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea were deported to South Africa yesterday, where they could face charges of violating that country's anti-mercenary laws.

It took more than five hours for the men, who had travelled all night in trucks from Zimbabwe's notorious Chikurubi maximum security prison, to clear immigration in South Africa for emotional reunions with family or loved ones.

South African officials said checking that passports were genuine was responsible for the delay.

A lawyer for the men, Jonathan Samkange, said Zimbabwe had released all 62 men who completed their year-long sentence on immigration charges. However, only 61 were deported to South Africa. Home Affairs spokesman Nkosana Sibuyi told the South African Press Association that one man was left behind in Harare because he was a Zimbabwean national. <snip>

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050515T190000-0500_80554_OBS_ZIMBABWE_RELEASES__DEPORTS_MERCENARIES.asp