Posted on 08/21/2002 3:48:26 PM PDT by Shermy
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - A Saudi corporation and charities on Wednesday denied accusations in a U.S. lawsuit they helped finance the Sept. 11 terror attacks, with one banker warning the legal action could jeopardize Arab investments in the United States.
Officials at the Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corp. and the Muslim World League, both of which are listed in the dlrs 1 trillion lawsuit filed by relatives of Sept. 11 victims, slammed the action as "part of a Zionist conspiracy against Saudi economy and Islam."
"The American-Zionist scheme against the Saudi economy ... became more clear with this baseless lawsuit," Abdel Rahman al-Rajhi, vice president of Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corp., told The Associated Press.
Since Sept. 11, there has been criticism in the United States at what is seen as too little effort by the Saudis to hunt down terrorists — although officials in both countries have insisted the ties remain solid. Saudis have often blamed Israel of trying to drive a wedge between the two countries.
Al Rajhi said the suit could result in the withdrawal of Arab investments in the United States and "negatively affect the U.S. and western economies." He did not elaborate.
"We have nothing to do with terrorism and our financial transactions are audited by monetary establishments," he said.
The Riyadh-based corporation is one of the largest joint-stock companies in the oil-rich kingdom, with paid-up capital of 2.2 billion riyals (dlrs 600 million), according to its official Web site.
Al Rajhi and the National Commercial Bank are the only Saudi-based banks listed in the lawsuit. Officials at the National Commercial Bank refused to comment.
The 15-count federal lawsuit filed on Aug. 15 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, seeks to cripple those it contends financed the Sept. 11 plot, including the Sudanese government, some members of the Saudi royal family, banks and charities. The suit also seeks to provide vengeance for the victims' families. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11 were Saudi nationals.
Those listed include Prince Mohammed al-Faisal, former intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan, Khalid bin Salim bin Mahfouz of the National Commercial Bank and the Faisal Islamic Bank.
The lawsuit also listed several charities, including the Muslim World League, the International Islamic Relief Organization and Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation.
Abdalla al-Turki, head of the Muslim World League, a nongovernmental organization founded in 1962, described the lawsuit as a "campaign led by Zionists against Islam and the Muslims."
"All establishments aiming at spreading Islam and helping Muslims have become accused of helping terrorism, which is not true," he said.
Adnan Pasha, head of the International Islamic Relief Organization, also denied the charges, saying the suit "distorts the image of Islamic charity organizations."
They won't stop 'till we're all dead or praying to some little black box in the sand 5 times a day.
Some choice, eh?
That's right, Abdel, turn on the charm.
Abdalla al-Turki, head of the Muslim World League, a nongovernmental organization founded in 1962, described the lawsuit as a "campaign led by Zionists against Islam and the Muslims."
Of course, the damned Jews did it! NOT!
These silly bastards are making themselves very easy to distust, and distrust leads to very big problems for the clowns that continue to deny responsiblity or address the war against terrorism...
The House of Saud, and others are headed for "paradise".
Semper Fi
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