Albania Seizes Assets Of Bin Laden Associate
TIRANA (AP)--The Albanian government has seized the assets and bank accounts of a man who allegedly worked with Osama bin Laden and others to provide support to terror networks in Albania, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
Abdul Latif Saleh, who holds Jordanian and Albanian citizenship, was placed on a U.N. sanctions list in September, requiring all U.N. members to impose a travel ban on him and block his assets.
Albania earlier had blocked 33 bank accounts in three commercial banks as well as assets and investments in Saleh's businesses and civic organizations he was involved with. Saleh used six different names, said spokeswoman Eva Simoni.
She said she did not know how much money was in the accounts.
The Finance Minister's order also required people to report any link to Saleh or his businesses and prohibited them from doing business with him.
The U.S. Treasury Department alleges that bin Laden provided Saleh with funds to encourage the creation of extremist groups in Albania, where he is believed to be closely associated with groups linked to the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a group connected to al-Qaida.
It said Saleh founded an Albanian jihadist group that has been bankrolled by the Al Haramain Foundation, an Islamic charity with alleged links to al-Qaida.
Saleh is believed to be associated with Yasin al Qadi, a Saudi businessman that the U.S. accused of being a terrorist in October 2001. The department said Qadi was an active fund-raiser for Saleh's jihadist group.
Saleh is also being investigated for alleged money-laundering for al-Qaida. He left Albania more than three years ago.
Earlier this year, Albanian authorities seized property and froze the assets of four foundations and a married couple accused by the United Nations of funding terrorist activities.
Well, finally, some happy news.
Thanks Oorang.