Mercenaries face death penaltyZimbabwe is threatening to execute some 64 suspected mercenaries as it accuses US, British and Spanish spies of trying to topple Equatorial Guinea's government.

Zimbabwe is threatening to execute some 64 suspected mercenaries as it accuses US, British and Spanish spies of trying to topple Equatorial Guinea's government.

Equatorial Guinea says it has uncovered plans by enemy powers and multinational companies to overthrow the government in the oil-producing central African state.

The two countries, some 3,200km apart, are on high alert since Zimbabwe seized a Boeing 727 carrying over 60 men, most of them South Africans, Angolans and Namibians, on Sunday.

Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge says the men will face punishments, including the death penalty. The men are to face a Zimbabwe court on Thursday.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell says Washington knows nothing about the plane and Spain says it will to make a formal complaint.
Mercenaries face death penalty | SBS News