Mossad, South Africa, World Cup Soccer

[Bela]

May 07 2010 at 02:39PM      
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20100507123407256C844214
By Carien Du Plessis

South Africa's super spy has admitted intelligence staff were aware that two Israeli spooks passed through OR Tambo International Airport after they had allegedly assassinated a Hamas leader, but said nothing could be done because the Mossad agents did not break any South African law.

All the SA Secret Service could do was pass on the information to other foreign countries affected, and lodge a protest.

The head of the SA Secret Service, Mo Shaik, told journalists in Cape Town that the two agents from the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, passed through the airport from Dubai before and after the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

But they broke no South African law, says Shaik, because they passed through the transit lounge from Dubai without entering the country.

He said the two were travelling on false British passports and SA security agents were aware of their presence.

Shaik said their passport numbers were passed on to Britain, whose passport laws were contravened, and the Netherlands, where they travelled on to from Johannesburg.

State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele said the secret service had instructed the National Intelligence Agency, the country's domestic counter-intelligence outfit, to deal with the matter.

He conceded that security operations at South Africa's ports of entry were sometimes disjointed.

"The challenges are not because we are lowering our vigilance, but in the way that state institutions are working together at the airport," he said.

Cwele said police, intelligence, customs and Home Affairs did not co-ordinate their operations at the airport.

"We want to promote the movement of people, but at the same time stop the movement of illegal actions," he said.

State Security Director-General Jeff Maqetuka said the secret service was in touch with officials in Dubai about the matter, but reiterated that South Africa did not favour any foreign agency.

Al-Mabhouh, who was wanted by the Israeli, Egyptian and Jordanian governments, was killed in the five-star Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai on January 20.

The Mossad agents travelled through the airport a day after the assassination.

News of their transit has sparked fears of inadequate security at OR Tambo airport on the eve of the World Cup which kicks off next month.