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Thatcher son arrested over alleged coup plot Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5813716/ http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5813716/ Thatcher’s son arrested over alleged coup plot Son of former British prime minister held in South Africa Mark Thatcher, pictured here with Margaret Thatcher in July, was arrested by South African police on Wednesday. The Associated Press Updated: 7:15 a.m. ET Aug. 25, 2004 CAPE TOWN, South Africa - South African police arrested Mark Thatcher, the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, early Wednesday on allegations he was involved in a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea, police said. Police spokesman Sipho Ngwema said Thatcher was arrested at his Cape Town home and is expected to be charged with violation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act. “We have evidence, credible evidence, and information that he was involved in the attempted coup,” said Ngwema. “We refuse that South Africa be a springboard for coups in Africa and elsewhere.” Police raided Thatcher’s home in the upscale suburb of Constantia shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday armed with search warrants. Investigators searched his records and computers for evidence. Investigators believe Thatcher helped finance a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea. “We believe Mr. Thatcher assisted in finance and logistics,” said Ngwema, who declined to elaborate. Scores are on trial over alleged plot Equatorial Guinea plans to put 19 people on trial there for involvement in the alleged plot. One other defendant died in custody on suspicious circumstances. In Zimbabwe, 70 other accused mercenaries are on trial separately in Zimbabwe. Equatorial Guinea has alleged that Thatcher and British and South African oil broker Eli Calil and other foreigners helped fund the alleged coup attempt. Lawyers for Thatcher and Calil denied the allegation. Thatcher was expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court later in the day. Ngwema said Thatcher was in his pajamas when police arrived and asked and received permission to take a shower before they began their search. The South African Press Association said police said Thatcher was being “relatively cooperative” with investigators. © 2004 The Associated Press.

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