Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- Hijackers linked to Saudi Arabia and Emirates Agencies aim to trace Bin Laden training camps Ewen MacAskill and Brian Whitaker Friday September 14, 2001 The Guardian Western intelligence sources are now concentrating wholly on the theory that the Saudi-born terrorist Osama bin Laden was responsible for the attacks and reject suggestions from retired US commanders, such as Wesley Clark, that Iraq was behind it. American investigators into the attacks on New York City and Washington are retracing the trail that took the 50-odd terrorists involved in the attacks from the Middle East to the United States. Within 48 hours of the explosions, the investigators have linked some of the terrorists to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. But it is almost certain that these may turn out to be just staging posts and the trail will lead to other parts of the Middle East and Asia. In the light of the revelation that Bin Laden is operating in at least 34 countries, the US, with the help of other intelligence agencies, will follow the trail through to his training camps and bases, and even further back to the many Arab countries from which he recruits. State-owned television in the UAE, after its government initially denied any links to the hijack in Boston, confirmed that two suspects had international driving licences issued in the UAE, based on Saudi driving licences, in June 2001. The two had Saudi passports. The UAE has an unenviable reputation as a transit spot for terrorists, drug-smugglers and money launderers, a relatively easy place to pick up false identity papers. It is also one of only three countries that recognise Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Western diplomats confirmed yesterday that international pressure had been put on the UAE in recent years to clean up the money laundering and smuggling but without success. A connection with the UAE was also established by Yemeni investigations into the bombing of the USS Cole in Aden harbour last October, which killed 17 people. One of the suspects at the time said he received telephone instructions for the bombing from a man in the UAE whom he had met during the Afghan war against Russia. He identified the man as Mohammed Omar al-Harazi, a Saudi citizen of Yemeni origin who is also known as Abu al-Mohsin and Abu al-Hasan. Harazi, who is believed to have provided funds for the attack, reportedly disappeared four days before the bombing. UAE embarrassment at being linked to Tuesday's attacks is shared by Saudi Arabia, especially as it regards itself as the main Arab ally of the US in the Middle East. Thousands of American troops are stationed in the kingdom. Bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia but the country stripped him of citizenship in 1994 for his activities against the royal family. A report by Kenneth Katzman of the Library of Congress congressional research service, completed just before the attacks, predicted that Bin Laden and his followers posed a threat to US interests and that his network "wants to strike within the United States itself". Cells of Bin Laden's al-Quaida (the Base) network have been identified, or are suspected to exist, in countries throughout the Middle East and Africa, in Asian nations such as Malaysia and the Philippines, in Ecuador, Bosnia, Albania, Britain, Canada and "allegedly inside the United States itself", the report said. Mr Katzman said Bin Laden was estimated to have about $300m (£205m) in personal assets. __________________________________________________ Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help? Donate cash, emergency relief information http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
