Terror funding crackdown 'flawed': UN report

[emad]

From BBC News:

A leaked study by the United Nations says that efforts to cut off funding to the al-Qaeda network are failing. The report blames inadequate co-operation, legislative loopholes and a lack of political determination, the UK's Financial Times newspaper says. The study says two suspected al-Qaeda fundraisers are still active in Italy and Switzerland, the newspaper reports. It also says the international arms embargo against al-Qaeda is not working and needs to be overhauled.

The report says that despite a system of financial checks designed to impede the activities of terrorists, many countries are not adequately sharing information, the newspaper reports. Since the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, countries are required to submit lists of individuals and organisations linked to terrorist groups to a UN committee. But, according to the study, many countries have failed to act and have been reluctant to seize properties and businesses, the Financial Times reports.

The newspaper cites the report as saying the arms ban on al-Qaeda is "totally ineffective" in some aspects and needs to be "completely revamped". It also reported as saying charities suspected of being linked to al-Qaeda remain active and difficult to control because of their involvement in humanitarian work. The report is quoted as citing the case of financiers Youssef Nada and Idris Nasredin, directors of al-Taqwa, a group Washington believes is a key funder of al-Qaeda.

It is reported that the two men continue to maintain commercial interests and property in Italy and Switzerland, even though they are categorised as terrorist financiers. The report is quoted as saying that Mr Nada visited Lichtenstein in January and tried to re-register two companies linked to al-Taqwa, despite being banned from travelling under UN restrictions. Such examples "reflect continued serious weaknesses regarding the control of business activities and assets other than bank accounts," the study is reported as saying. Mr Nada has denied any links to extremist groups.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3269849.stm

Quoted from:

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1066565876294&p=1012571727085


Edit:

Al Qaeda suspects 'still operating businesses':

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1066565872063&p=1012571727102

[ClintonTyree]

1. No doubt............

The United States (along with their "allies") heavy handed techniques have more than pissed off a few countries and their cooperation that we enjoyed at one time after 9/11, has been squandered. The world was with us after 9/11 and everyone was willing to help fight terrorism. Our cowboy pResident's policies have wasted all of that goodwill and sympathy that came pouring in, now they could give a rat's ass about the "war on terror".
I lay these failures directly at the cowboy boot clad feet of George Bush and his henchmen.

[papau]

2. US laws via Pres Exec orders applying to other countries' banks?

It is only via cooperation - and Bush has everyone pissed at the US

What a leader

what an uniter

but as always our media says nothing, since giving context to the UN report might hurt Bush,

rather they use the Rove spin of those bad other countries and the hard job ahead.

[truthspeaker]

3. who cares about Al Qaeda

Iraq is our enemy.

Iraq has always been our enemy.</orwell>