SA casts doubt on reports of al Qaeda plot

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Seeking to calm a jittery public, government officials have cast doubt on reports that two South Africans captured along with a senior al Qaeda terrorist in Pakistan were plotting attacks on tourist sites in their home country.

Government spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe said the reports, confirmed by Pakistani officials Wednesday, were “aired with no credible evidence from our agencies or agencies in Pakistan.” The brother of one of the suspects also dismissed the reports as “ridiculous.”South Africa is a surprising target, given the country’s strong stand against the Iraq war and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.But a top police official claimed in May that authorities had foiled a plot to attack South African targets shortly before the country’s April 14 elections.The two South African men are believed to have arrived in Pakistan on a flight from the United Arab Emirates just days before their July 25 arrest, which followed a 12-hour gun battle in the eastern city of Gujrat.They greeted police with curses and promised an unending battle against US president George W Bush and anyone who supports him, according to Gujrat police chief Raja Munawar Hussain.He identified the men as Feroz Ibrahim, believed to be in his 30s, and Zubair Ismail, in his 20s.Hussain said authorities found several maps of South African cities among the items seized after the raid, which also netted Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a Tanzanian with a US$25 million bounty on his head for the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.”They had some terror plans for South Africa,” Hussain said.He had no details on the plans or the timing of an attack.But an intelligence official based in the eastern city of Lahore said authorities believe the men wanted to target tourist sites in Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial center.South African government ministers expressed outrage at the reports during a routine Cabinet meeting Wednesday.The Star and ThisDay also mentioned targets in other cities, including parliament and another mall in Cape Town; the US Embassy, government buildings and the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria; and the luxury British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2, which has made stops in Durban and Cape Town.Western diplomats were sceptical that al Qaeda would target South Africa itself, suggesting that US and British interests in the country would be more logical choices for attack.Officials at the US Embassy said they had no independent confirmation of the alleged plot and did not intend to step up security.- Nampa-APThe brother of one of the suspects also dismissed the reports as “ridiculous.”South Africa is a surprising target, given the country’s strong stand against the Iraq war and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.But a top police official claimed in May that authorities had foiled a plot to attack South African targets shortly before the country’s April 14 elections.The two South African men are believed to have arrived in Pakistan on a flight from the United Arab Emirates just days before their July 25 arrest, which followed a 12-hour gun battle in the eastern city of Gujrat.They greeted police with curses and promised an unending battle against US president George W Bush and anyone who supports him, according to Gujrat police chief Raja Munawar Hussain.He identified the men as Feroz Ibrahim, believed to be in his 30s, and Zubair Ismail, in his 20s.Hussain said authorities found several maps of South African cities among the items seized after the raid, which also netted Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a Tanzanian with a US$25 million bounty on his head for the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.”They had some terror plans for South Africa,” Hussain said.He had no details on the plans or the timing of an attack.But an intelligence official based in the eastern city of Lahore said authorities believe the men wanted to target tourist sites in Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial center.South African government ministers expressed outrage at the reports during a routine Cabinet meeting Wednesday.The Star and ThisDay also mentioned targets in other cities, including parliament and another mall in Cape Town; the US Embassy, government buildings and the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria; and the luxury British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2, which has made stops in Durban and Cape Town.Western diplomats were sceptical that al Qaeda would target South Africa itself, suggesting that US and British interests in the country would be more logical choices for attack.Officials at the US Embassy said they had no independent confirmation of the alleged plot and did not intend to step up security.- Nampa-AP