SA, Tanzania in terrorist row

A bitter row has broken out between South Africa and Tanzania over the deportation to the United States of a Tanzanian national wanted for alleged involvement in the bombing of the American embassy in Dar-es-Salaam in August last year, the ‘Sowetan’ newspaper reported on Thursday.

It quoted an intelligence source as saying secret service officials of both countries are expected to meet this week over the matter. It said the Tanzanians were instrumental in providing information that led to the suspect’s arrest in South Africa when he tried to seek working papers.

“A senior local intelligence official told ‘Sowetan’ that the matter has proved embarrassing to them as it gave the impression that the Tanzanians might not have been capable of ensuring the prosecution of the suspect. Someone within our police and intelligence agencies decided that it would be better to deal with the FBI regarding the investigation of the suspect instead of the Tanzanians,” the it said.