Al-Qaida Retains Financial Muscle to Commit Terrorism: UN Expert

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, September 06, 2002

Al-Qaida Retains Financial Muscle to Commit Terrorism: UN Expert

Michael Chandler, chairman of the UN expert panel monitoring sanctions related to Afghanistan,warned Thursday that Al-Qaida still has sufficient resources to carry out more attacks.

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Michael Chandler, chairman of the UN expert panel monitoring sanctions related to Afghanistan,warned Thursday that Al-Qaida still has sufficient resources to carry out more attacks.

Briefing reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, Chandler stressed that the risks posed by Al-Qaida can not be overstated.

"No one should doubt that Al-Qaida continues to have sufficient resources at its disposal to carry out its operations in many areas of the world and to plan and launch further terrorist attacks," he said.

He urged stricter measures against the group, placed under sanctions with Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and their associates by Security Council resolution.

Security Council resolution 1390 requires all countries to freeze the financial assets of individuals, groups or organizations on the sanctions committee list, and to continue a travel ban and arms embargo on the remaining elements of the Taliban, Al-Qaida network and its supporters.

Chandler cited reports of ongoing money transfers outside the formal banking system. "Islamic-based charities provide a source of funds from which Al-Qaida has and can easily continue to benefit, and many governments are reluctant to investigate charities unless they have definite evidence of an abuse of the charity's functions," he said, calling for a concerted effort to tackle the problem.

The panel has concentrated most of its efforts over recent months on Europe, "a key area which Al-Qaida appears to have used for preparation to mount not only the 11 September attacks but also subsequently some smaller terrorist actions," he said.

Previewing a report which will be published in the coming days, Chandler also acknowledged that the international community had made great strides in dealing with Al-Qaida.

"But while there had been victories in the war against terrorism, it had not yet been won," he said.

In a related development, the council committee overseeing the sanctions against the Taliban and Al-Qaida operatives has added 25individuals and entities to the roster.

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