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DATELINE: ARLINGTON, Va. A Saudi government audit obtained by U.S. intelligence shows that five top Saudi Arabian businessmen ordered the National Commercial Bank, the kingdom's largest, to transfer personal funds and $ 3 million from a Saudi pension fund to New York and London banks, the newspaper said. It said the money was deposited into accounts of Islamic charities, including Islamic Relief and Blessed Relief, that serve as fronts for bin Laden. Bin Laden, whose family runs the largest construction company in Saudi Arabia, has called for the overthrow of the Saudi government. USA Today quoted the further unidentified U.S. intelligence officials as saying the payments are "protection money" aimed at staving off attacks on the businessmen's properties.
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The money transfers were discovered in August after the Saudi royal family ordered and audit of the National Commercial Bank and its founder and former chairman, Khalid bin Mahfouz, the U.S. officials said.
The newspaper said Amoudi's Washington attorney, Vernon Jordan, who also is a confidant of President Clinton, could not be reached for comment. Bin Laden has been indicted by a U.S. grand jury on charges of ordering the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people. Bin Laden, believed to be living in Afghanistan, has denied the charges. |