 |
|
Saudi Ambassador in Washington Prince Bandar bin Sultan |
WASHINGTON,
November 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Money was sent, via
the bank account of Princess Haifa Al-Faisal, wife of Saudi Ambassador
to the United States Prince Bandar bin Sultan, to two college students
in southern California who closely aided two of the September 11
airplane hijackers, U.S. media claimed Saturday, November 23.
Newsweek
magazine alleged that tens of thousands of dollars were sent to the
students via the bank account of Princess Haifa.
The
potentially explosive information comes as Washington is seeking
cooperation from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, in
stabilizing oil prices and cooperating in a possible war with Iraq,
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
According
to the report, the money was transferred to the bank account of Omar
Al Bayoumi, a student in San Diego, in early 2000, just before alleged
hijackers Khalid Almidhar and Nawaf Alhazmi arrived in Los Angeles,
FBI sources told Newsweek.
The
FBI said Almidhar and Alhazmi later participated in hijacking American
Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
Al
Bayoumi befriended the two men, hosted a welcome party in San Diego
and helped secure an apartment for them, according to Newsweek.
When
Al Bayoumi left the United States in July 2001, monthly payments of
3,500 dollars were sent to the account of another student, Osama
Basnan, who the magazine claims to be a close associate of Al Bayoumi
and a known al-Qaeda sympathizer.
Five
of the 19 alleged September 11 hijackers were Saudi citizens and most
were believed to have been used as unskilled "muscle" to
protect the kamikaze pilots.
Meanwhile,
a draft report by a joint U.S. Congressional committee looking into
the events of September 11 blamed both the FBI and the CIA for not
aggressively pursuing leads linking the hijackers to Saudi Arabia --
including the money sent to the two San Diego students, the New York
Times reported Saturday.
The
draft report complained of a lack of cooperation from Saudi officials
in the investigation but did not reveal the source of the money sent
to San Diego or the amount of the payments.
The
preliminary findings "caused a bitter behind-the-scenes dispute
between the panel's staff and officials at the FBI and the CIA,"
with officials at each agency disagreeing with the draft findings, the
New York Times reported.
The
Washington Post reported that FBI agents allegedly found the phone
number of a Saudi embassy employee in Bayoumi's San Diego apartment.
FBI
agents questioned two employees of the embassy's Islamic affairs
section about the calls, Saudi embassy officials told the paper.
But
they insisted there was no link between any Saudi government employee
and Bayoumi.
The
Washington Post also reported that money had been sent to the Saudi
students in San Diego, stating that it came from a "wealthy Saudi
source."
|
|
Iraq:
- Bush, Putin, Urge Iraq Disarm Fully and Unconditionally
- U.S. Terrorism Cause of Anti-American Violence: Baghdad
- Iraqis Make Fun of UN Arms Search
- Philippines Worried U.S. Security Pact Could Draw It into Iraq War
- Anti-NATO, War Protestors Arrested, Expelled for Prague Demo
Palestine:
-
Jihad Claims Responsibility for Israeli Boat Attack
-
UK Demands Israel Probe Killing of U.N. Worker, Annan Deeply Disturbed
-
Three Israeli Soldiers Killed By Palestinian Activist in Gaza Strip
-
Briton Killed By Israeli Army in Jenin Camp
-
Israeli Army Storms Jenin, Reoccupies Bethlehem, Gaza
Ramadan
-
Ramadan in Mexico
-
Muslims in Kosovo Perform Taraweeh in the Open
-
New Muslims Enjoy Peace, Serenity
of Ramadan Fast
-
Ivory
Coast Opposition, Government Sign Agreement
-
Austria's
Haider Slams EU, Claws for Votes
-
Lithuanian Leader Bestows Highest State Award to Bush, Pledges Support
-
Occupation 101: A Documentary Aimed At Educating Westerners
-
Newsweek Claims: Saudi Money Linked to Two Sept 11 Hijackers
-
New
Pakistani Cabinet Sworn in, Opposition Unhappy
-
8 Indian Troops Killed, 19 Wounded in Kashmir Landmine Blast
-
Citizens' Tribunal Indicts Gujarat Government for Genocide
-
Saudis Arrest Kuwaiti Policeman Suspected of Shooting Two U.S. Soldiers
-
-
Chechen
War Reaches Moscow
-
World
Wide War
-
Invasion
into Gaza
-
Arafat
HQ Destroyed… In Pictures
-
Homeless in Minutes
-
War on Iraq.. World Reaction
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
