Key British, US envoys deny terror alert

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

The reports said the United States Embassy in Gaborone had also made special preparations to evacuate American citizens into Botswana in case of attacks during the games. The two nations are prime targets of anti-Western networks throughout the world.

The Deputy High Commissioner said that it was their normal practice throughout the world to stay alert to any emergency or threat to British citizens. 'It is part of our daily business to respond to crisis involving British citizens,' Luckock said.

He denied the reports, saying in any event, it would not make sense to fly their citizens into Botswana instead of to Britain for safety. He added what he was not aware of the reports and would investigate further.

By contrast, the Public Affairs Officer at US Embassy, Dan Saint-Rossy, was terse in his response: 'We don't discuss security arrangements for the US team,' he said.

The spokesman of the Botswana Police Service (BPS), Assistant Commissioner Christopher Mbulawa, said they were ready for any eventuality. 'We are ready for human traffickers, drug traffickers and any (other) criminal activity,' Mbulawa emphasised. He disclosed that BPS had dispatched an officer to South Africa who would appraise police headquarters on the security situation. Mbulawa said the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Organisation (SARPCO) was making it difficult for criminals - both local and foreign - to carry out their plans both before and after the world's most spectacular soccer extravaganza.