Zimbabwe seizes plane carrying suspected mercenaries

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.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been in a war of words with the United States and former colonial power Britain, which have accused him of a political crackdown following his victory in 2002 presidential elections which the opposition and Western observers said were flawed.

Mugabe 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 states in southern Africa, Zimbabwe now faces regular shortages key goods, soaring inflation and high unemployment.

Footage on state television showed a white plane with the code N4610 painted on the body. Several army personnel were shown sifting through equipment, including what appeared to be army boots, communication radios, and sleeping bags.

US Federal Aviation Administration records show N4610 to be a 727 cargo plane registered to Dodson Aviation Inc. based in Ottawa, Kan. Dodson Aviation said it sold the plane in question about a week ago to an African company called Logo Ltd.

There was no word on where the plane arrived from, or whether Zimbabwe was its intended destination.

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corp. said investigations were likely to extend to Zimbabwe's southern African neighbors.

State television said officials had refused to disclose the nationalities and identities of the passengers.

A ZBC reporter said investigators were examining the plane "to determine whether there is still more equipment or possibly arms of war in the cargo section."

Reporters were taken aboard the plane to look at the cargo, which included a rubber dinghy, military uniforms, wire cutters, armor, compasses, and other military hardware, said chief police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena.