Mann pardoned in Equatorial Guinea
Former British soldier Simon Mann (left)
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Former British soldier Simon Mann, who had been sentenced to 34-years in prison for a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, has been pardoned.
Mr Mann is reported to have received a full pardon by the country's president Teodoro Obiang Nguema, for "humanitarian reasons" relating to his health.
The former soldier was sentenced back in July 2008 after admitting during his trial to conspiring to oust Mr Nguema. He is expected to leave the country within 24-hours.
A statement from the country's ministry of information said: "The pardon will allow Mann to immediately leave the territory of Equatorial Guinea with an absolute prohibition on return.
"The mercenary was sentenced to nearly 35 years in prison for crimes as serious as attempted murder against the head of state, terrorism, weapons possession and so on."
Mr Mann was involved in the attempted coup for plotting to overthrow the country's government. Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's son became entangled in the incident when Mann named him as involved.
The former SAS officer had already spent three years in jail in Zimbabwe after being arrested along with dozens of mercenaries when his plane landed in Harare in 2004.
His pardon today comes on the eve of an official visit to the country by South African president Jacob Zuma.