Saudi exile assets frozen

A SAUDI exile accused of providing money and support to Osama bin Laden is to have his assets frozen under international anti-terrorism sanctions, United States officials confirmed yesterday.

Saad al-Fagih, who heads the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), will be added to a list of designated terrorists and banned from travelling overseas if a request to the United Nations Security Council is approved.

The US Treasury said the action, supported by Britain and Saudi Arabia, has been launched amid allegations that his organisation’s website has been used to send messages to al-Qaida affiliated groups and potential recruits.