Skip Channel4 main Navigation
Explore Channel4
Food
Homes
Film
Comedy
News
See All
[an error occurred while processing this directive]


VIDEO

Premium Content Broadband video
See our exclusive report here
Page Not Found - Channel 4

Where's that page gone? Search us...

This page cannot be found. Here are some options to help track down what you're looking for:

  • If you want to watch full-length programmes, browse all Channel 4, E4 and More4 programmes currently available to watch on our free 4oD service.
  • For more information on a particular show, try visiting our A-Z of programmes.
  • Alternatively, try typing your search term into our new improved Search.

Advertisement

Exclusive interview
Equatorial Guinea



Published: 12-Oct-2004
By: Sue Turton



Just weeks before he's due to appear in court, Sir Mark Thatcher faces fresh allegations about his role in the alleged coup in Equatorial Guinea.


The attorney general of Equatorial Guinea, Jose Olo Obono, in his first television interview, has claimed to Channel 4 News that he has uncontrovertible evidence that Mark Thatcher was central to the plot.



He also revealed he has asked the British government to mount a investigation, and prosecution if appropriate, into a number of others including Peter Mandelson and the man with the initials JH Archer, who they presume to be Lord Archer.



All of those named vigorously deny any wrongdoing.



Sue Turton reports.



The attorney general of Equatorial Guinea is in London for meetings at the Home and Foreign Office.



He's here to further his investigations into the alleged role a number of British citizens had in the attempted coup on his President.



He claimed there's evidence that Mark Thatcher had a list of telephone numbers in his possession in South Africa and other things on his computer which clearly showed his involvement in the coup.



He wasn't able to show us that evidence but Mark Thatcher is still on bail in South Africa.



The Attorney General has now asked for help from the British Government in investigating not just Thatcher but also a man they presume to be Lord Archer and Peter Mandelson, now the EU's trade commissioner.



All these men have denied any involvement in the coup and no evidence has been produced to support these claims from the government of Equatorial Guinea who say the Home Office has not been very co-operative.



The attorney general says he is pursuing those who organised and employed mercenaries from South Africa through Simon Mann, who is now serving a prison term in Zimbabwe for his role in the attempted overthrow.



His confession in prison is being used as evidence by the Equatorial Guinea legal team.



But they also claim they've found new evidence from another alleged coup conspirator Nick Du Toit, who is currently on trial in Malabo.



The authorities have claimed to Channel 4 News that they gained access to secret files in Du Toit's laptop that listed the names of people linked to the coup plot, Mark Thatcher's name was among them, as was his personal telephone number.



But the Attorney General of Equatorial Guinea went even further in spite of failing to show us any evidence to back up his claims, he said he believed the British Government were aware of the plan to overthrow President Obiang in advance.



The Government, as previously, refused to comment on that claim.



Were British citizens involved? So far only Simon Mann has been found guilty of arms offences.



Peter Mandelson has consistently denied any involvement, Jeffrey Archer's lawyers responded to the allegations by saying simply no comment.


C4 NEWS INFO
The Channel 4 News site has been redesigned. This page is part of an archive of content from the previous website.
Go to new homepage




BREAKING HEADLINES
channel4.com - Application Error Skip Channel4 main Navigation

   Application Error

Apologies, but this page is temporarily unavailable.

Our technical team are made aware of most faults almost immediately - and fix them as soon as possible. Please revisit the site at the next convenient opportunity, when we would hope and expect this problem to have been resolved.

If you have returned to the site and are still having problems, please contact us here

Best wishes

Channel 4 webteam

Channel 4


channel 4

Channel 4 © 2010. Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.