Obiang seeks damages in London's High Court against the men he alleges plotted to overthrow him, several of whom are British citizens. July 27 - Sixty-seven of the 70 suspected mercenaries in Zimbabwe plead guilty to lesser charges of violating immigration and civil aviation laws and are quickly convicted. July 28 - Simon Mann, a former member of Britain's elite SAS force accused by Zimbabwe of leading the suspected mercenaries, pleads guilty to attempting to possess dangerous weapons. Aug 18 - In Zimbabwe, 66 of the men, excluding Mann and three others, deny charges they unlawfully attempted to possess or acquire a slew of weapons from state arms firm Zimbabwe Defence Industries. Aug 23 - Fourteen foreign suspected mercenaries and five Equatorial Guineans go on trial in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Aug 25 - South African police arrest Mark Thatcher, the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, on suspicion of involvement in the plot. He is released from house arrest after posting 2 million rand (about $300,000) bail on Sept. 3. --More 1941 Local Time 1641 GMT
