Coup plot suspects arrested

Three men in Benin, including a former Minister and the man in charge of President Patrice Talon's security, have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, the prosecutor has said. BBC News reports that former Sports Minister Oswald Homeky was detained on Tuesday while allegedly handing over bags of cash to the head of the Republican Guard, Elonm Metonou told a press conference. Investigators said Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre was being bribed not to resist a coup d'etat planned for today. Also detained was a businessman, Olivier Boko – a friend of Talon’s – who had recently indicated he had political ambitions. Boko's lawyers and supporters condemned what they called his ‘abduction’ and have demanded his immediate release. Investigations are ongoing to identify further suspects, the prosecutor said.