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Mann 'confesses' to African coup | Mann 'confesses' to African coup |
(about 3 hours later) | |
British mercenary Simon Mann, who is in prison awaiting trial for plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea, has confessed to involvement. | |
He said he was not the "main man" behind plans to overthrow the West African nation's government in 2004. | |
Speaking to Channel 4 News, the ex-SAS officer also alleged Sir Mark Thatcher was "part of the team". | |
Channel 4 overturned a ban on the interview, which Mann's lawyers claimed may have been given "under duress". | |
Mann's lawyer Anthony Kerman had argued he may have been forced to take part by prison authorities. | |
But the court injunction was overturned by Channel 4 on Friday and the interview, in which Mann himself denied coercion, was broadcast on Monday night. | |
Simon Mann is an old friend of mine for whom I have the utmost sympathy throughout this whole ghastly process. Sir Mark Thatcher Mark Thatcher-Dogs of War | |
The 55-year-old ex-Etonian was interviewed at the notorious Black Beach prison in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. | |
He said he was the "manager, not the architect" of a plot to oust Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. | |
He went on to name those who were involved in the conspiracy. | |
'Acutely distressed' | |
Mann insisted his old friend Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was "part of the team". | |
Sir Mark was fined and received a suspended sentence in South Africa for his involvement in the coup. | |
He has always claimed he was an unwitting conspirator and that as far as he knew, he was helping finance a new company - an air ambulance business in West Africa. | |
I blame myself most for simply not saying 'cut' two months before we were arrested Simon Mann Profile: Simon Mann | |
In response to Mann's allegations, Sir Mark told Channel 4 News: "Simon Mann is an old friend of mine for whom I have the utmost sympathy throughout this whole ghastly process. | |
"Clearly what's happening to him now is very worrying and he must be frightened and acutely distressed, poor man. | |
"I have nothing to add to the statements that I gave to the relevant authorities in 2004, which are a matter of public record." | |
'Violent abduction' | |
Mann went on to categorically deny rumours that EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson and former Tory peer Jeffrey Archer were involved in the plot. | |
He told Channel 4 News he had to "carry the can". | He told Channel 4 News he had to "carry the can". |
"I blame myself most for simply not saying 'cut' two months before we were arrested," he said. | "I blame myself most for simply not saying 'cut' two months before we were arrested," he said. |
"That's what I should have done, and there I was bloody stupid. Mea culpa (my fault)." | "That's what I should have done, and there I was bloody stupid. Mea culpa (my fault)." |
I regret it all terribly. You go tiger shooting, and you don't expect the tiger to win Simon Mann | |
Mann was jailed in Zimbabwe after arriving from South Africa on board a plane carrying weapons in 2004. | |
Up until the interview, he had maintained he was going to help guard a mine in Democratic Republic of Congo. | |
Last month, he was extradited from Zimbabwe to Equatorial Guinea without the knowledge of his lawyers. During the interview, he described it as an "illegal violent abduction". | |
He went on to apologise for his role in the plot. | |
"I regret it all terribly," he said. "You go tiger shooting, and you don't expect the tiger to win. | |
"I've been saying how sorry I am to everybody for four years now actually. I'm going to write it on my forehead - sorry." | |
Equatorial Guinea, an oil-rich former Spanish colony, has been ruled by President Obiang since he seized power from his uncle in a coup in 1979. | |
Corruption watchdog Transparency International has put the tiny state in its top 10 corrupt states. | |
Mann is due to stand trial next week. |