What is going on here?
Zimbabwe held a U.S.-registered cargo plane Monday which the government said was carrying suspected mercenaries and a cargo of military gear.
The United States said it had no connection with 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 under way to establish the identities of passengers on the seized plane and the nature of their trip.
Wasn’t there some rumor about a missing plane in Africa several months back?