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U-N Committee Says al-Qaida Still Dangerous - 2002-12-17


A U-N report says the al-Qaida terrorist network shows signs of regrouping in Afghanistan.

The report says al-Qaida has established small terrorist training sites in the eastern part of the country, which are attracting a number of volunteers.

The U-N committee that monitors efforts to cripple al-Qaida says Osama bin Laden's financial network has largely been dismantled. But it says the al-Qaida leader still has considerable money at his disposal -- mainly from private charities that go unregulated in many countries.

The United Nations placed worldwide sanctions on al-Qaida last year shortly after the September 11th attacks in the United States. The sanctions include a travel ban, an arms embargo, and a call on all government to freeze the group's financial assets.

Al-Qaida was forced to abandon most of its Afghan sites after the U-S-led military offensive in Afghanistan that began in October 2001.

The U-N committee released its report today (Tuesday). British diplomat Michael Chandler, who heads the committee, says al-Qaida has suffered disruptions and cannot operate like it once did.

But, in his words, there are still too many al-Qaida members out there. He says that trained al-Qaida members have spread and melted into different societies, and those are the ones the United Nations has to be worried about.

He said it is "good news" that some governments, such as Saudi Arabia, have promised to do more to control charities that funnel money to al-Qaida.

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