The Mercury , South Africa
June 8 2005

Armenian mercenaries to be freed
June 8, 2005

Malabo (Equatorial Guinea): A senior Armenian diplomat has arrived in
the oil-rich African nation of Equatorial Guinea as authorities
prepare to hand over six Armenians accused of being mercenaries and
granted a presidential pardon after being convicted in a coup plot.

Ponciano Mbomio, a lawyer for the six, said they could be released
soon.

On Sunday, the eve of his birthday, President Teodoro Obiang granted
amnesty to the six who had been sentenced to 14 and 24 years in
prison.

On Monday, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry expressed satisfaction at the
move, saying a diplomat was headed to Malabo to collect the men.

At a trial in Equatorial Guinea in November, an Armenian pilot was
jailed for 24 years. Five other crew members were sentenced to 14
years each. The leader of the group, South African arms dealer Nick
du Toit, and six other South Africans are still in jail.

Du Toit was sentenced to 34 years in prison. – Sapa-AP