Zimbabwe 'seizes US cargo plane'

The Boeing 727-100 was held on Sunday after its owners "made a false declaration of its cargo and crew".

Mohadi said the plane was carrying mercenaries of differing nationalities and "military material".

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A spokeswoman from the US embassy in the Zimbabwean capital could not confirm or deny the reports.

"A United States of America-registered Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was detained last night at about 1930 (1730 GMT) at Harare International Airport after its owners had made a false declaration of its cargo and crew," Mohadi told reporters at a news conference.

"The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities," he was quoted as saying.

"Further investigations also revealed that on board the plane was military material."

The minister said an investigation was under way to establish the men's identities and their "ultimate mission".

The plane is believed to have been moved to a military base, but it is not immediately clear what has happened to those on board the plane.

US Embassy officials said they had not been informed of the incident and were trying to obtain details from Zimbabwe authorities.

President Robert Mugabe repeatedly has accused the United States and Britain of plotting to overthrow his autocratic regime.