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Equatorial Guinea pardons coup plot pilots

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  • Equatorial Guinea pardons coup plot pilots

    Independent Online, South Africa
    June 6 2005

    Equatorial Guinea pardons coup plot pilots



    Yerevan - Equatorial Guinea has pardoned six Armenian flight crew
    members convicted last year of plotting to overthrow the president of
    the tiny West African country, Armenia's Foreign Ministry said on
    Monday.

    The Armenians were among dozens of foreigners jailed in Equatorial
    Guinea and Zimbabwe over the aborted coup, which Mark Thatcher, son
    of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has been accused
    of helping to finance.

    The pardon was issued by Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang
    Nguema Mbasogo, Hamlet Gasparyan, spokesperson for the Armenian
    Foreign Ministry, said.

    The six have been held in the notorious Black Beach prison in
    Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo. Rights group Amnesty
    International said in April they risked starving to death.

    Mark Thatcher has denied any role in the coup plot.

    The Armenians were employed by an aircraft leasing company to fly
    cargo around Africa. They have denied being involved in the plot and
    Amnesty said their trial was "grossly unfair".
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