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| French mercenary Bob Denard dies | French mercenary Bob Denard dies |
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| The French mercenary, Bob Denard, has died, his family says. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. | The French mercenary, Bob Denard, has died, his family says. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. |
| "I confirm that he has died," his sister Georgette Garnier told Reuters. | "I confirm that he has died," his sister Georgette Garnier told Reuters. |
| Denard, 78, was notorious for leading coups in Africa, including four in the Comoros Islands - the most recent of which was in 1995. | Denard, 78, was notorious for leading coups in Africa, including four in the Comoros Islands - the most recent of which was in 1995. |
| He was convicted in French courts for his efforts to overthrow governments in Benin in 1977 and the Comoros, but both jail sentences were suspended. | He was convicted in French courts for his efforts to overthrow governments in Benin in 1977 and the Comoros, but both jail sentences were suspended. |
| His trial last year in connection with the 1995 Comoros coup attempt took place with him in absentia as a result of his illness. | His trial last year in connection with the 1995 Comoros coup attempt took place with him in absentia as a result of his illness. |
| Convicted of "belonging to a gang who conspired to commit a crime", Denard received a five-year suspended jail sentence. | Convicted of "belonging to a gang who conspired to commit a crime", Denard received a five-year suspended jail sentence. |
| Colourful life | Colourful life |
| Denard was born Gilbert Bourgeaud in Bordeaux in 1929. | Denard was born Gilbert Bourgeaud in Bordeaux in 1929. |
| The French certainly didn't disapprove of what he was doing early on Adam RobertsWriter on Africa Profile: Bob Denard | |
| After serving in the French navy in Indochina, he joined the police in colonial Morocco where he was convicted of an assassination plot against French Prime Minister Pierre Mendes-France. | After serving in the French navy in Indochina, he joined the police in colonial Morocco where he was convicted of an assassination plot against French Prime Minister Pierre Mendes-France. |
| Despite this incident, Denard claimed he was acting in the interests of France or other European powers, and once described himself as "a soldier never an assassin". | Despite this incident, Denard claimed he was acting in the interests of France or other European powers, and once described himself as "a soldier never an assassin". |
| His life story is filled with colourful anecdotes. | His life story is filled with colourful anecdotes. |
| In 1968 Denard and several hundred fighters tried to invade Katanga, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, by bicycle. | In 1968 Denard and several hundred fighters tried to invade Katanga, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, by bicycle. |
| His 1995 coup attempt in the Comoros involved arriving with 30 men in inflatable boats. | His 1995 coup attempt in the Comoros involved arriving with 30 men in inflatable boats. |