Until now, both women have insisted they were forced to carry the drugs after being threatened at gunpoint by a criminal gang.

"Its also convenient to still blame apartheid for the governments failings -- although that position is getting a little dated now."

The hearing is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).

Airports are also at risk, particularly small ones.?? A recent looked at how small airports are increasingly feeling the pinch as higher fuel costs drive up airfares at small airports (which are served by smaller planes using more fuel per passenger) faster than at large ones, and travelers increasingly choose to drive to larger hubs for fares.?? As regional airports close, larger airports may gain somewhat, but will it be enough to offset overall air traffic declines??? And as smaller regional airports close, will that begin to undermine the appeal of air travel altogether, leading many people to take fewer trips or travel by bus or train?

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