South African police arrested Mark Thatcher, the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, early Wednesday on allegations he was involved in a plot to overthrow the government of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, police said. Police spokesman Sipho Ngwema said Thatcher, 51, was arrested at a Cape Town home and is expected to be charged with violation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act. "We have evidence, credible evidence, and information that he was involved in the attempted coup," said Ngwema. "We refuse that South Africa be a springboard for coups in Africa and elsewhere." Investigators searched his records and computers for evidence. They accused Thatcher of helping to finance a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea, which authorities claimed was foiled in March. "We believe Mr. Thatcher assisted in finance and logistics," Ngwema said. [more
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