Zimbabwe army tightens airport security

March 22, 2004

Zimbabwe army tightens airport security
AngolaPress, Angola

Harare, Zimbabwe, 03/22 - The army in Zimbabwe has
tightened security at airports throughout the country
after a plane-load of heavily armed mercenaries en
route to topple the government of Equatorial Guinea
was intercepted at Harare International Airport two
weeks ago.

Mercenaries from Angola, DR Congo, Namibia, South
Africa and Zimbabwe flew into Harare to pick up more
arms on a planned mission to oust President Teodoro
Obiang Nguema from power.

The mercenaries have been detained in the country and
are likely to appear in court next week to face a
variety of charges, including violating Zimbabwe`s
firearms, immigration and security laws.

A local newspaper, quoting aviation sources, reported
Sunday the mercenary incident had prompted the
government to deploy troops at all the country`s
airports to foil any rescue attempts of the
mercenaries.

"It is true that soldiers have been deployed here but
they have nothing to do with the travel of tourists.
They are basically there to do their job of securing
the terminals," the Standard newspaper quoted an
official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
as saying.

Zimbabwe has tightened security in the country in the
wake of the mercenaries, whose capture mirrors another
incident five years ago in which a group of heavily
armed Americans were arrested at Harare International
Airport trying to board a plane to Europe. 

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************