Police to take over World Cup venues

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 11: The South African police is to take over all the venues of the forthcoming World Cup two weeks before the big event gets underway as part of a nationwide security operation.

The grounds will be thoroughly screened and "swept" for bombs and will be sealed ahead of the opening ceremony on Jan 8 at Newlands in Cape Town.

Superintendent Muller, the national police spokesman for matters concerning the World Cup 2003 security said that the SA Police Service will have complete control of all the grounds. Sniffer dogs will be deployed to detect explosives.

"We are going to have a complete lock down after we have 'bomb swept' the stadiums and no on will be allowed to enter unless they have the right accreditation" said the police spokesman.

"South Africa is as safe as any place, we have proved that with the recent World Summit and we are used to big events like the World Cup. Our contingency plan is in place for any eventuality".

According to Muller, the security was planned in such a way that people would not be held and delayed reaching the venues.

They were aware of the warning from some countries about possible terrorist activities in South Africa and intelligence arms had not been idle and were gathering information nationally and internationally.

The security plan is to be co-ordinated with World Cup Organisers, the police, the SA National Defence Force and the National Intelligence Agency and will include provisions for "no-fly zones" as well as regular air patrols and deployment of members of armed forces.

There is however a lot of apprehension about the matches to be played in Zimbabwe by England, Australia, India and Pakistan, a pool which involves, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Holland.

Civic bodies, angered by the prospect of England and Australia playing in Zimbabwe despite the alleged repression by President Robert Mugabe regime have grouped themselves into "Organised Resistance" organisation to disrupt the World Cup matches in Zimbabwe.

This indeed raises the threat of serious rioting raising security problems for the Cup organisers.