Sapphire stock seized in situ

A VALUABLE AMD partner's employee attempting to get his non working samples of R600 cards into Tunisia today found them impounded at customs.

The customs authorities demanded to know what the samples were worth and taped them up carefully so that when he got back to the airport first thing tomorrow morning he could pick them up tomorrow morning.

Another valuable AMD partner avoided that, tipped up here two days back in the partners' hotel - separate from where the hacks are - and had them shipped from Hong Kong direct.

Trouble is, they haven't yet tipped up either.

Meanwhile, your correspondent was questioned by plain clothes immigration officers at the Carthage airport who requested a photocopy of all documentation relating to a company called AMD.

He was quizzed about how many journalists were tipping up and who at AMD was ultimately responsible for inviting 120 journalists to the AMD gig. To that we answered that we weren't entirely sure.

Was AMD going to open an office in Tunis, we were asked. We don't know the answer to that either.

But we do know that now 50 Tunisian journalists have been invited to this evening's celebrations here in Old Tunis. And the immigration officers were polite and charming because we didn't tip up with any cards. Because we don't know what's going on here, yet.