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Bank denies terrorist link

    NAIROBI

    The chairman of Barakat Bank has denied press reports that his bank is owned by Al-Ittihad al- Islami, one of the groups whose assets have been frozen by the United States. The London-based 'Daily Telegraph' newspaper reported on 28 September that Barakat Bank was owned by Al-Ittihad, and "is known to fund [Osama] bin Laden". Ahmad Nur Ali Jim'ale, who is based in Dubai, told IRIN on Monday that the reports that Barakat Bank was owned by Al-Ittihad were "baseless, malicious lies and a complete fabrication meant to harm our businesses".

    Ahmad Nur said the Barakat group of companies was wholly owned by "over 600 Somali shareholders" with no foreign interests. He said he "will be instituting legal action against the 'Daily Telegraph' if they don't retract this malicious falsehood". He said that he had "no personal or business links with Bin Laden or Al-Ittihad al-Islami". Ahmad Nur told IRIN that Barakat was ready to cooperate with any authority wishing to establish the truth. "Our books are open to all who are interested in the truth," he added.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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