This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7221948.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Zimbabwe deports Mann to E Guinea Zimbabwe deports Mann to E Guinea
(30 minutes later)
Zimbabwe has extradited Briton Simon Mann, a leader of alleged mercenaries, to Equatorial Guinea to face coup plot charges, his lawyer says.Zimbabwe has extradited Briton Simon Mann, a leader of alleged mercenaries, to Equatorial Guinea to face coup plot charges, his lawyer says.
The ex-SAS officer was jailed in Zimbabwe on arms charges in 2004, and rearrested after his release last May.The ex-SAS officer was jailed in Zimbabwe on arms charges in 2004, and rearrested after his release last May.
On Wednesday, the High Court turned down an appeal against his extradition - his lawyers had argued he could face torture in Equatorial Guinea. On Wednesday the High Court turned down an appeal against his extradition - his lawyers argued he could face torture.
He was flown out of the country without his legal team's knowledge. He was flown out of the country without his legal team's knowledge before they could lodge a final appeal, they said.
His lawyer Jonathan Samkange had gone to visit Mann in prison on Friday morning, only to be told he was no longer there. There has been no official confirmation of the extradition from the Zimbabwean government.
"They deported him at night, late Wednesday night," Mr Samkange told the AFP news agency. 'Affidavits'
His lawyer Jonathan Samkange said he had gone to visit Mann in prison on Friday morning, only to be told he was no longer there.
Deporting a person at night is not only mischievous but unlawful Jonathan Samkange "They deported him at night, late Wednesday night," Mr Samkange said. "There are affidavits to that effect."
He said he found out about Mann's departure only after he had filed a final appeal with the Supreme Court in Harare.
"The idea was that by the time we filed a notice of appeal he would have gone," Mr Samkange said. "This was designed to defeat the notice of our appeal."
"Deporting a person at night is not only mischievous but unlawful."
Mann was detained in 2004 when his plane landed in Zimbabwe from South Africa.
He was accused of trying to fetch arms for a coup against Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema and jailed.
More than 60 men arrested with him - most of them South African citizens of Angolan origin - were released in 2005 after serving a year's sentence in Zimbabwe.
Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former UK Prime Minister now Baroness Thatcher, was fined and received a suspended sentence in South Africa for his involvement in the affair.
Another 23 people were convicted in Equatorial Guinea itself, and one man, a German, died in prison. Amnesty International said he had been tortured.
Officials in Equatorial Guinea have said Mann will get a fair trial and will not face the death penalty.
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.