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| The Alliance |
| Belgium drags its feet in terror investigations |
| 2001-10-18 |
BELGIUM is refusing to co-operate fully in the fight against terrorism and has denied FBI investigators access to crucial witnesses. More than a month after the attacks in America, the FBI is still trying to obtain telephone records and contact addresses needed to track down the al-Qa'eda network in Europe. American officials scoffed at Belgian claims yesterday that the dispute was because of the FBI's failure to follow "proper procedure" or that they had been given the material wanted. An official said: "Belgium signed an agreement to co-operate with America but we're certainly not seeing that kind of partnership yet." Christian de Valkeneer, the Belgian judge in charge of terrorist investigations, has been "working to rule" to prevent FBI agents gaining access to his files. The delays may have allowed crucial leads to dry up. The Americans are itching to talk to Nizar Trabelsi, a Tunisian arrested by the Belgians two days after the September 11 attacks, but Judge de Valkeneer refused to hand over information about his network of contacts. According to the confession of Djamel Beghal, an Algerian terrorist now in the hands of the French, Trabelsi was preparing to carry out a suicide bombing mission against the American embassy in Paris. In contrast Holland, Germany and Spain are working in a "joined-up" operation with the FBI, in some cases allowing Americans to take part in suspect interviews. On Friday a Belgian court ordered the release of two terrorist suspects with al-Qa'eda ties who were caught with car bomb chemicals. Belgium is a leading centre of Islamic extremists, especially the Algerian GIA Armed Islamic Group, which is linked to al-Qa'eda. Judge de Valkeneer is no stranger to controversy. He has been accused of dragging his feet in an inquiry into foreign ministry corruption. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |