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Brother of Bin Laden Not in Cyprus: Official
Cyprus has denied reports that a brother of Osama bin Laden, most wanted by the U.S. for alleged terrorist attacks on its interests, has been in the Mediterranean island, a weekly reported on Friday, September 14.
Cypriot Justice Minister Nicos Koshis said on Thursday that neither bin Laden nor any member of his family has ever visited or stayed in Cyprus, Cyprus Weekly newspaper said.
Koshis made the remarks when he was commenting on reports that the Cypriot security forces were investigating whether the unnamed brother of bin Laden has been in Cyprus.
Reports said that the brother of bin Laden owns an offshore company in Limassol town on the southern coast of the island.
Koshis clarified that the brother of bin Laden was not wanted by Washington, but rather had excellent ties with the U.S. and that there was no reason to stop him from doing business in Cyprus if he so wished.
The brother in question lives permanently in Switzerland and would not be prevented from entering Cyprus, he added.
There are suspicions that bin Laden's terrorist associates may have used the island's offshore companies to cover their shady businesses.
Earlier this year, there were allegations in a New York court that bin Laden had secret bank accounts in Cyprus, where he had carried out illegal gunrunning.
The U.S. holds bin Laden responsible for the 1998 bombings of its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which left 224 people dead.
After the terror attacks on New York and Washington last Tuesday, the U.S. indicated on Thursday that bin Laden may have been behind the attacks.
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