SAfrica, EGuinea condemn mercenaries

PRETORIA (AFP) - Leaders of South Africa and Equatorial Guinea condemned the activities of mercenaries, in a joint communique Thursday, following the release of five men jailed over a 2004 coup plot in Malabo.

Briton Simon Mann and four South Africans were freed Tuesday after receiving a pardon from the man they tried to overthrow, Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

South African President Jacob Zuma made a one-day official visit to the oil-rich state on Wednesday for talks with Nguema, a visit that Pretoria says was linked to their release.

In a communique issued after their talks, the two leaders made no mention of the five freed men, but denounced soldiers of fortune and called on greater efforts to curb their activities.

"They have condemned the actions of mercenaries in Africa and reaffirmed the total importance of the respect of the Algiers Declaration against unconstitutional changes of governments," it said.

"In respect of the fight against terrorism, mercenary activity and piracy, both heads of state have condemned without reservation these evils and renewed their determination to fully contribute to the efforts of the international community to combat and eradicate them."

Mann returned to Britain on Wednesday, but the four South Africans have yet to return home. The foreign ministry said it could not provide any details on their travels.

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