264 HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS IN BOSNIA BEING INVESTIGATED

SARAJEVO, Jan 30 (Hina) - At least eight million US dollars is blocked on the accounts of various humanitarian organisations in Bosnia currently under investigation over suspicion that they took part in the financing of terrorist activities, the Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje says on Wednesday. The probe by the Finance Ministry of the Bosnian Federation, the Croat-Muslim entity, is part of the global anti-terrorist struggle aimed primarily at discovering and thwarting the Al-Quaida terrorist network. According to Oslobodjenje, the investigation focuses on four humanitarian organisations, including the US-based Benevolentia International Foundation (BIF) and the Global Relief Foundation from Sarajevo. The probe has brought to light suspicious business ties between the BIF and Bosnia's controversial war-time interior minister Alija Delimustafic. BIF loaned his BH Banka US$20,000 which has never been returned. The financial police investigation allegedly also focused on the Supreme Saudi Aid Committee, the Active Islamic Youth, and several other organisations and companies, although there is no confirmation at present of compromising details about their activities. Parallel with the probe is the questioning of around 200 employees with various humanitarian organisations active in Bosnia. To date the state anti-terrorist commission has requested the inspection of 264 non-governmental organisations registered in the Federation and another 33 in the Bosnian Serb entity. The investigation covers not only Islamic but Catholic and Protestant associations and organisations as well, Oslobodjenje claims. (hina) ha sb