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UN sanctions won't stop an al-Qaeda attack
AL-QAEDA remains capable of mounting "devastating attacks" and sanctions are only having a limited effect on the group, a United Nations report says.A team of UN investigators also found the organisation is still trying to acquire chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons and it is only "a matter of time" before a successful attack occurred, the report says. The investigation reviewed sanctions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and predicted brutal attacks by Osama bin Laden's followers would escalate because they still have easy access to bombmaking materials and money. Terror attacks sponsored by al-Qaeda and weapons of mass destruction are among the chief threats confronting the world, says the report to a UN Security Council committee. UN sanctions require all 191 member states to impose a travel ban and arms embargo against a list of those linked to Osama bin Laden's terror network and the former Afghan rulers and to freeze their financial assets. The list includes more than 430 individuals and groups. "The biggest fear we all have is terrorists getting hold of the means to cause a mass attack," said Richard Barrett, who co-ordinated the investigation. "Al-Qaeda is a phenomenon that observes no borders. It is even harder to track now than it was a year or two ago when it had a more coherent structure and leadership." Mr Barrett said he did not think al-Qaeda was likely to obtain an entire bomb, but rather components of weapons of mass destruction, for example, toxic or radioactive material. Despite steps taken by UN member states to impose military-style weapon embargoes, attacks with small arms and explosives have continued, it says. Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-02-17 |
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