Iâm hoping that the initial headline is a typo ...
Most UN countries are refusing to act against al Qaida, a top official said tonight. UN nations have to come forward with information about the terrorist networkâs suspects and donors. But just 84 of the 191 countries have so far done so. Heraldo Munoz, who chairs the UNâs al Qaida sanctions committee, said they must do more. âWe are disappointed that only 84 countries out of 191 have come forward with information to us,â he said. âWe are hoping from here to the end of the year we would have more countries providing information.â
Speaking on BBC 2âs Newsnight programme he said states feared they would be targeted by al Qaida if they were seen to act against it. But he said without co-operation the group would never be defeated. âAl Qaidaâs terrorism is global. The only way is for a global approach. There is no way we can beat terrorism in a unilateral way.â Mr Heraldo said he âwasnât surprised at allâ that Turkey had been targeted by groups linked with al Qaida. A total of 27 people died in two bomb blasts in Istanbul yesterday. Al Qaida had targeted secular Islamic democracies before and had trained and financed 30 to 40 groups throughout the Middle East, Asia and Europe. He said Osama Bin Laden had lost key lieutenants but the organisation was still relatively intact. Mr Heraldo also said he feared the organisation might have access to surface-to-air missiles which it had tried to use in Kenya. |