Archer 'link to coup plot'

[emad]

By Barry Penrose in Malabo and Keith Dovkants in London, Evening Standard
12 October 2004



Jeffrey Archer faces fresh questions today over his alleged links to a failed coup as an Evening Standard investigation reveals dramatic new evidence.

The bid to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea with mercenaries led to the jailing of Old Etonian Simon Mann in Zimbabwe last month.

Since then the oil-rich African country has requested Home Office help in questioning British subjects over the affair.

Lord Archer's name appears on a list of these individuals. The disgraced Tory peer has denied any knowledge of a coup attempt.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/13989674?source=Evening%20Standard

No Lady Thatcher at last week's Tory Party conference in Bournemouth....I wonder why...

[AP]

1. Look at the worry trails on that guy's forehead.

[JuniorPlankton]

2. Yeah, he can probably catch flies and mosquitoes with those n/t

[emad]

3. See also Channel 4 News story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x900168

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. You have to wonder why they are letting Archer take the fall

for this.

And will he keep quiet, or give up his associates?

[emad]

5. New Archer link to coup plot alleged: Guardian, 13 October

David Pallister, Jamie Wilson and David Leigh
Wednesday October 13, 2004

Snip

.............Solicitor Henry Page said: "The calls ... provide substantial links between the conspirators around the time of the coup attempt."

Last night Lord Archer responded to a report about the telephone calls in the London Evening Standard. His lawyer released a statement on behalf of the peer, who was jailed for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001.

"The Evening Standard reports that on January 3 2004 Lord Archer was telephoned from Mr Calil's number on two occasions, and one of those calls lasted for 15 minutes," the statement said. "That call was between different family members and did not include Lord Archer, who on that occasion was in Cambridge."

The telephone records obtained by the newspaper show that Mr Calil, who has strenuously denied any involvement in the coup attempt, called the home of Lord Archer on four occasions. The purpose of the calls is not clear.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/equatorialguinea/story/0,15013,1326040,00.html