British 'mercenary chief' faces execution in Zimbabwe

~SNIP~
By Basildon Peta in Johannesburg and Andrew Buncombe in Washington
11 March 2004


Zimbabwe was threatening to execute up to 60 suspected mercenaries last night - among them a former SAS officer - and accused Britain, Spain and the US of helping to orchestrate an attempted coup in the oil-rich African country of Equatorial Guinea.

Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister, Stan Mudenge, said the men were on their way to Equatorial Guinea where they were plotting to overthrow the government and seize the head of state. "They are going to face the severest punishment available in our statutes, including capital punishment," he said.

Mr Mudenge claimed his information had been provided by Simon Mann, an Old Etonian and a one-time member of the SAS, who, he said, was waiting for the suspected mercenaries when they were arrested in Harare at the weekend. Mr Mann has a long association with the private military business and was a senior figure in Sandline, the mercenary group headed by a former British Army lieutenant-colonel, Tim Spicer.

Zimbabwe, which has frostty relations with much of the Western world, said the plot had been elaborate. "Apparently, this was not one mission ... after the diversion in Equatorial Guinea, they were going to the DRC ," said Mr Mudenge.

... more ...

link: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=500019

I could talk all night
my mind goes sleepwalking
while I'm putting the world to right
called careers information
have you got yourself an occupation

CHORUS:
oliver's army is here to stay
oliver's army are on their way
and I would rather be anywhere else
but here today

there was a checkpoint charlie
he didn't crack a smile
but it's no laughing party
when you've been on the murder mile
only takes one itchy trigger
one more widow, one less white nigger

chorus

hong kong is up for grabs
london is full of arabas
we could be in palestine
overrun by a chinese line
with the boys from the mersey and the thames and the tyne
but there's no danger
it's a professional career
though it could be arranged
with just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
if you're out of luck you're out of work
we could send you to johannesburg

oliver's army is here to stay
oliver's army are on their way
and I would rather be anywhere else
but here today
and I would rather be anywhere else
but here today
and I would rather be anywhere else
but here today