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The government was concerned that South African citizens may be among the 64 alleged mercenaries aboard a possibly US-registered aeroplane impounded in Zimbabwe on Sunday.

In a media statement yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was in close communication with South Africa's High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Jerry Ndou, as he seeks clarity on the circumstances surrounding this incident.

"Should the allegations that those South Africans on board are involved in mercenary activities prove true, this would amount to a serious breach of the Foreign Military Assistance Act, which expressly prohibits the involvement of South Africans in military activities outside South Africa without the due authorisation of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee," the department said.

It was reported earlier that Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi had announced the impounding of a US-registered aircraft, which landed at Harare airport with military equipment and 64 suspected mercenaries.

However, a US State Department official denied that the plane was registered in the United States, though it might once have been.

"It is not a US registered aircraft right now," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Mohadi said that a "US-registered Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was detained last (Sunday) night at about 19:30 hours at Harare International Airport after its owners had made a false declaration of its cargo and crew".

"The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities," the minister told a press conference.

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

President Robert Mugabe has repeatedly accused the US government and the former colonial power, Britain, of trying to oust him from power since he was re-elected in controversial polls two years ago.

Mohadi said full details would be issued in due course but that in the meantime investigations were under way to establish the "true identities of the men and their ultimate mission".

The plane, whose origin has not been established, has been moved to a military airbase, it was told.

What had been done with the men aboard was not immediately clear.

A US embassy official in Harare said "We know nothing about it" and the mystery deepened when the official in Washington confirmed: "It is not a US government or a US commercial aircraft as far as we know.

"I understand that at one point back in the 1970's someone may have owned it in the US but it hasn't been a US aircraft since the early 80's," the official explained. "I have no idea who owns it.

There is no US citizen on board".

Three US nationals were arrested at the same airport on March 7, 1999 trying to board a plane to Zurich with firearms.

They said they were missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and used the arms for hunting and for their protection.

The government described them as mercenaries, prompting anti-US demonstrations.

They were convicted on September 13 of that year on a charge of possession of arms of war, and sentenced to 27 months in prison, with 21 months suspended because the judge found they had been treated inhumanely. They were released on November 6, 1999.

Relations between the US and Zimbabwe worsened last week when US President George W. Bush renewed sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and other government officials one year ago for allegedly undermining democracy in the southern African country.

Washington said it was widening the existing sanctions regime against Zimbabwe to include seven government-related businesses.

Bush said the Zimbabwe government was causing a breakdown of the rule of law, economic instability, and fomenting politically motivated violence, but Information Minister Jonathan Moyo responded angrily referring to the Americans as "hamburger-eating imperialists".

Last month the EU extended sanctions it had imposed against Zimbabwe, to include an arms embargo as well as travel restrictions and a freeze on any overseas assets of 95 government officials, including Mugabe.

The economy of the former British colony has been in a nose-dive in recent years with international support drying up, and rates of inflation and interest skyrocketing to record highs of more than 600%.

Mugabe's reputation as an African statesperson started fading in recent years after the country -- once the region's breadbasket - slid into economic decline as land reforms which had been left unresolved for years, were jump-started with the violent occupation of white-owned farms. – Sapa.

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