Equatorial Guinea coup plot leader convicted  August 28, 2004 -
4:15PM  A one-time movie star and former British special forces
operative accused of leading a foiled coup plot in Equatorial
Guinea has been convicted of trying to buy weapons from
Zimbabwe's state arms manufacturer.  Sixty-six other suspected
mercenaries on trial in a makeshift courtroom were acquitted of
the same charge today. Most have admitted other violations, but
two were released.  Meanwhile, the government of Equatorial
Guinea said it wanted to extradite Mark Thatcher - son of former
British prime minister Margaret Thatcher - and other Britons
allegedly behind the scheme.  Spanning from London to Cape Town,
the alleged conspiracy was foiled early in March when security
forces in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea arrested Simon Mann and
89 other suspected mercenaries as they allegedly prepared to
launch the coup attempt.  Mann - an alumnus of the exclusive
boarding school Eton and a longtime soldier of fortune who won
praise for an acting ap