A group of about 64 men in detention in Zimbabwe, accused of being "mercenaries" planning to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea, are to be charged with destabilising an independent government, home affairs minister Kembo Mohadi said yesterday.

The men's lawyer, Jonathan Samkange, however, said the only charge he was aware of was for violating immigration regulations.

He was expecting to see them in Chikurubi prison on Harare's eastern outskirts later on Friday in the first access to legal advice they have had since landing at Harare international airport six days ago.

Mohadi told reporters: "The charges are quite clear. They include destabilising an independent and sovereign government, and our statutes and the African Union, forbid that".

President Robert Mugabe's government has said the group flew to Harare from South Africa on Sunday and were about to continue to the tiny oil-rich West African state of Equatorial Guinea to join another group of 15 alleged mercenaries there to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasango.

Mohadi has said the group were members of a mercenary company, known as Executive Outcomes, and that British and American intelligence were involved in the alleged plot.

On Wednesday foreign minister Stan Mudenge said the government would hang them if they were found guilty.

Samkange said he expected the men to appear in court either today or Monday.

In terms of immigration laws, suspects can be held for a week before appearing in court, he said.

A firm of attorneys in South Africa asked him on Thursday to represent all members of the group, he said. They are said to be nationals of South Africa, Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. – Sapa.