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Musharraf's secrets found on road

December 07, 2004 17:36 IST
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Top secret files containing minute details of the security arrangements for Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf on his visit to Britain this week were found on a London street, reports the Mirror, London.

This included the president's movements plus confidential police radio channels, call signs and codes, the paper said.

The documents were found abandoned outside a restaurant in Curzon Street, Mayfair, hours before Musharraf, 61, and his wife Begum Sahba touched down at Heathrow from Washington.

'A delivery driver noticed an A3-sized brown envelope on the pavement outside Marco Pierre White's Mirabelle restaurant, picked it up and - when he discovered the contents - handed it to the Mirror,' the paper said. The Mirror in turn returned the documents to Scotland Yard.

According to the Mirror, General Musharraf -- who met British Prime Minister Tony Blair Monday--is the world's No 3 assassination target after US President George Bush and Blair.

The main 17-page document was titled "Visit of His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan" and signed by Metropolitan Commissioner Sir John Stevens, the paper said. The files contained security arrangements at the London hotel where Musharraf and his entourage are staying and has maps detailing his scheduled movements.

Details of three police radio channels - a Command Channel, Working Channel and Security Channel - were given, enabling anyone who found the dossier to tune in, the Mirror said.

'There are further details on how undercover armed cops can be identified. The file reads: "Protection officers in plain clothes carrying firearms can be identified by the wearing of a **********."' said the Mirror, which did not publish the details.

'Also included are the names of the 10 senior officers and their call signs; the direct line phone number for the Special Operations Room at New Scotland Yard; locations at specific times and call signs of Special Branch and Anti-Terrorist officers, plus nine maps detailing intelligence on protests,' the paper said.

'The delivery driver, who does not wish to be named, had picked up the envelope thinking it was a bundle of Christmas menus.'

 'I was in shock. This could have been disastrous. These sort of documents should have be under lock and key,' the Mirror quoted him as saying.

The Pakistan High Commission and Tony Blair's office have declined comment.

 

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