-Caveat Lector- JULY 06, 14:02 EDT bin Laden May Be Receiving Millions By SALAH NASRAWI Associated Press Writer CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Saudi and Gulf businessmen have donated tens of millions to help Osama bin Laden, the man hunted for masterminding the bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa, to rebuild his campaign against the United States, sources said Tuesday. Donations from sympathetic businessmen — in the form of religious alms — began to flow in faster after Washington offered a $5 million reward for bin Laden's capture in January, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The sources, who included Saudi businessmen, told The Associated Press in Cairo that bin Laden may have received more than $50 million before Saudi authorities uncovered the donations and stopped the transfers recently. Saudi authorities questioned and rebuked several leading entrepreneurs over donations, including the owner of one of the Gulf's largest advertising firms, the sources said, refusing to give his name. In an effort to further squeeze bin Laden, President Clinton ordered financial sanctions Monday against the Taliban religious militia that rules most of Afghanistan, where bin Laden has been based for the past four years. The executive order freezes Taliban assets within U.S. jurisdiction and bars trade with the group. The United States accuses bin Laden of masterminding the deadly Aug. 7, 1998, bombings of its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed 224 people and injured thousands. Last week, Washington warned that bin Laden may be preparing another attack as the anniversary of the embassy bombings approaches. It briefly closed six of its African embassies in late June. Bin Laden — the son of a wealthy Saudi tycoon, now stripped of his citizenship and shunned by his family — is believed to have received funds from Gulf businessmen in the 1980s, when he fought alongside Mujahedeen guerrillas against Soviet troops in Afghanistan. But he is reportedly suffering from cash problems because of the recent U.S. crackdown, which included the freezing of his accounts abroad. In June, the FBI put bin Laden on its 10 Most Wanted list. New contributions would most likely help bin Laden gather activists and accelerate any plans for attacks against American targets. The sources said most of the donations were given in the form of religious alms that Muslims are required to give to the poor — but radical clerics say alms can also be paid for promoting ``Islamic'' causes. Many in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf see bin Laden as a larger-than-life icon fighting the world's most powerful nation on behalf of Islam. Bin Laden has denied any role in the attacks against Americans. However, in an interview with an Arabic television last month, bin Laden expressed admiration for the people who bombed American forces in Saudi Arabia in 1995 and 1996 and said that all Americans were legitimate targets. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
