President sues UK 'coup plotter'

Simon Mann denies the coup plot

The government of Equatorial Guinea is to sue a British man jailed last week for his part in an alleged plot to topple the president.

The president and his government had earlier launched civil proceedings in England against Simon Mann, 51, two of his companies and three other men.

The damages case was allowed to proceed on Thursday, when a stay on the action was lifted.

It was delayed in July due to criminal cases against some of the defendants.

Mr Mann was the British leader of a group of 67 alleged mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea.

Government-in-exile

He was convicted in Zimbabwe of illegally trying to buy weapons and sentenced to seven years in jail earlier this month.

The men were arrested in March when their private plane landed at Harare Airport. They denied plotting a coup.

The other passengers got 12 months in jail for breaking immigration laws while the two pilots got 16 months, but they were acquitted of links to the suspected coup plot.

The men said the weapons were to be used to provide security for a diamond mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his government are taking action against Mr Mann and two of his companies, Logo Limited and Systems Design Ltd.

British businessman Greg Wales, Lebanese millionaire Ely Calil and Severo Moto, the self-proclaimed president of a so-called Equatorial Guinean government-in-exile in Spain, are also being pursued for damages.

Mann (second right) comes from a privileged background

On Thursday, John McLinden, counsel for President Mbasogo and his government, argued the order was contrary to the public interest and the defendants' interests.

Concern about criminal proceedings had only affected Mann, he said.

He added: "This was an act of terrorism alleged to have been plotted on English soil.

"It is not for the courts of England to be staying or deferring or leaving to hang in the air allegations of this nature given the current concerns about international terrorism".

The stay was lifted by High Court official Master Eyre, who adjourned the case until 31 October for the two sides to prepare their cases.

Mr Mann was educated at elite British private school Eton, and rose through army ranks to become a commander, before drifting into the world of private security in Africa.

He is a good friend and Cape Town neighbour of Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Sir Mark was arrested in South Africa last month, accused of helping to fund the alleged coup. He denies any involvement.