World Tribune.com: Saudis still funding terror, Congressional panel told

Testimony to the U.S. Congress contradicted assertions by the Bush administration that Saudi Arabia has stopped financial support for organizations linked to terrorism.

Last week, three Saudi princes and major Saudi banks were listed as defendants in a $1 trillion suit filed by the families of the victims of the Sept. 11 Al Qaida attacks on New York and Washington. Among the princes is Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz.

Levitt told the Senate that Saudi Arabia has avoided a genuine crackdown on Islamic charities accused of funding terrorists because this could reveal donations by high-ranking Saudi princes. He said that despite the suicide attacks on New York and Washington "Saudi officials have exhibited, at a minimum, a clear pattern of tolerating funds earmarked for extremist purposes."

The testimony to the Senate was in line with that of other U.S. counterinsurgency experts that dismissed Saudi efforts to halt financing to Al Qaida and allied groups.

Levitt cited several Saudi-based charities that have been determined to finance Al Qaida. They include the International Islamic Relief Organization, its parent Muslim World League and the Saudi High Commission for Aid to Bosnia.

The European Union has done little to contribute to the U.S.-led war against terrorism, Levitt said. He cited complaints by U.S. officials that European allies have contributed few names to the list of alleged terrorist financiers. He said Europe has not acted against all of the names on the list of U.S. terrorist financiers.