-Caveat Lector- Saudis Finance bin Laden ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Osama bin Laden continues to receive help from businessmen in Saudi Arabia who are transferring tens of millions of dollars to bank accounts linked to the accused terrorist, U.S. intelligence officials told USA Today. The money was deposited into accounts of Islamic charities, including Islamic Relief and Blessed Relief, that serve as fronts for bin Laden, the newspaper reported today. 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. 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. The money transfers were discovered in August after the Saudi royal family ordered an audit of the National Commercial Bank and its founder and former chairman, Khalid bin Mahfouz, the U.S. officials said. Mahfouz is now under house arrest in the Saudi city of Taif. His successor, Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi, also heads the Capitol Trust Bank in New York and London, which is being investigated by U.S. and British officials for allegedly transferring money to bin Laden, USA Today said. In Washington, Al-Amoudi's attorneys said he has no knowledge of the acts alleged in the story and does not know bin Laden. Al-Amoudi ``has never knowingly had dealings of any kind with Osama bin Laden,'' the firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld said in a statement. ``Sheik Mohammed H. Al-Amoudi does not have any knowledge of any money transfers by Saudi businesses to Osama bin Laden (and) is unalterably opposed to terrorism.'' Bob Dubill, executive editor of USA Today, would not comment on the lawyers' statement. 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. 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
