Albania Freezes Bank Accounts, Other Assets in Terror Probe

V)A: Albania says it has frozen another bank account belonging to a fugitive businessman accused by U.S. authorities of receiving money from Osama bin Laden to set up a terrorist network in Albania.

The Albanian Finance Ministry also said Sunday it had seized assets belonging to at least five Islamic charities operating in the country.

The businessman, Abdul Latif Saleh, a Jordanian national who also holds an Albanian passport, is on a United Nations' sanctions list that requires U.N. members to impose travel bans and block the assets of suspects.

The Finance Ministry began seizing Saleh's assets last year, after U.S. authorities alleged that bin Laden provided $600,000 to Saleh to help foster extremist groups inside Albania.

Albanian authorities say Saleh left Albania several years ago.

The Associated Press quotes U.S. authorities as saying the latest bank accounts and property were seized early this month in the capital, Tirana, and in two small northern towns, Kukes and Bulqiza. That report also quotes U.S. authorities as saying Saleh's last known address was in the United Arab Emirates.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.