"Dog of war" on trial in Eq. Guinea

By Daniel Flynn

MALABO (Reuters) - Mercenary Simon Mann, one of Africa's last "dogs of war", went on trial in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday and the prosecution asked he be jailed for nearly 32 years for his role in a failed 2004 coup plot.

Looking pale and gaunt in his grey prison uniform, Mann, 55, sat quietly but defiantly as Public Prosecutor Jose Olo Obono described how he plotted to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in the small, oil-rich West African nation.

The defence lawyer for Mann, who is an Eton-educated former special forces officer, said that while his client was part of the coup plot he was a "mere instrument", not a main organiser. Obiang has ruled the former Spanish colony since 1979.

After the prosecution and defence cases were heard for Mann and eight co-accused, including a government minister and members of a banned opposition party, the trial was adjourned until Wednesday.

The prosecutor said foreign investors had helped organise the coup plot. Among them, he named Mark Thatcher, son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Mark Thatcher, who is not on trial in Malabo, has denied knowing about the plot.

Mann was arrested in Zimbabwe in March 2004 with 70 mercenaries en route to Equatorial Guinea. He was extradited earlier this year after serving a four-year sentence for illegal possession of arms.

Soldiers carrying machine-guns guarded the marble-walled conference centre where the hearing was being held in the steamy capital Malabo. Authorities had expressed fears Mann could be assassinated to prevent him from testifying.

Prosecutor Olo Obono asked the court to sentence Mann to a cumulative jail term of 31 years and eight months on charges of crimes against the head of state, crimes against the government and crimes against the peace and independence of the state.