If you are caught or captured, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions
Zimbabwe seizes plane carrying suspected mercenaries
US says no sign of tie to aircraft, passengers
By Cris Chinaka, Reuters, 3/9/2004
HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe held a US-registered cargo plane yesterday that the government said was carrying suspected mercenaries and a cargo of military gear.
The United States said there were no indications of a US government connection to the plane, whose origin and destination remained a mystery.
The aging Boeing 727-100 aircraft was impounded Sunday evening at Harare International Airport "after its owners had made a false declaration of its cargo and crew," Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said in a statement.
"The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities," Mohadi said, adding an investigation had also found military materiel. Television pictures showed hardware such as satellite telephones and military knives.
Authorities said no formal charges had been made, and investigations were underway to establish the identities of passengers on the plane and the nature of their trip.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters: "We have no indication this aircraft is connected to the US government." A senior US official said the government wanted to complete its checks before definitively ruling out a connection.
The Pentagon also denied a connection to the aircraft. "It isn't one of our planes and not any of our people," said Pentagon spokesman Army Major Paul Swiergosz.
