Tue, Mar 09, 2004
Claims Mercenaries Onboard
Zimbabwe has seized a
U.S. - registered cargo plane with 64 suspected mercenaries of
various nationalities and a cargo of "military material," Home
Affairs (Interior) Minister Kembo Mohadi said on Monday.
"A United States of America-registered Boeing 727-100 cargo
plane was detained last night at about 1930 hours (12:30 ET) at
Harare International Airport after its owners had made a false
declaration of its cargo and crew," Mohadi said in a statement.
"The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of
various nationalities," he said, adding that an investigation had
also revealed "military material" in the cargo.
Mohadi said fuller investigations were under way to establish
the identity of the men and the nature of their mission. There was
no word on where the airplane arrived from, or whether Zimbabwe was
its destination. Mohadi said another statement would be released
"in due course." The Asscoaited Press could not reach officials at
the U.S. Embassy in Harare for comment.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has been engaged in a bitter
war of words with both the United States and Britain, which have
accused him of a political crackdown following his victory in the
2002 presidential elections, which the opposition and Western
observers said were flawed. Mugabe in turn accuses Western powers
of attempting to undermine his government in retaliation for his
controversial seizure of white-owned farms for distribution to
landless blacks.
Once one of the most prosperous countries in southern Africa,
Zimbabwe now faces regular shortages of food, fuel and foreign
exchange as well as soaring rates of inflation and high
unemployment.
More News
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Altitude Readout An aircraft’s altitude, transmitted via the Mode C transponder feature, that is visually displayed in 100-foot increments on a radar scope having readout cap>[...]
Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
"The need for innovation at speed and scale is greater than ever. The X-62A VISTA is a crucial platform in our efforts to develop, test and integrate AI, as well as to establish AI>[...]