A former mercenary has revealed that a 2004 coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea had the backing of the Spanish, British and US authorities. In his new book, Cry Havoc, Simon Mann gives an account of the failed coup that aimed to replace President Teodoro Obiang Nguema with an exiled opposition leader.

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Mann admits that he was set to make big money from the operation but also says he hoped to improve the lives of ordinary Equatorial Guineans.

The former officer in Britain's crack military corps, the SAS, was captured in Zimbabwe loading an aircraft with weapons.

He spent time in jail before being extradited to Equatorial Guinea. From London, Mann spoke about his motives, the money, and life as a mercenary.

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