Lebanon: An American list to freeze bank accounts

The Lebanese minister of justice Samir al-Jeser has revealed that he has received an American list asking for freezing bank accounts for individuals and organizations whose names are on the terrorism list.

The London- based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily issued on Wednesday said that the American list which was handed by the American embassy in Lebanon through the Lebanese ministry of foreign affairs asks freezing of bank accounts for 27 persons and organizations, especially freezing all properties and assets and companies for Osama Bin laden and his partners in Lebanon.

The Lebanese minister explained that this list will be submitted to the Central Bank of Lebanon to be considered by the special investigation commission which reviews " Money laundering crimes," headed by judge Shbeib Muqallad and includes the governor of the Lebanese central bank Riad Salamah and other members. The Lebanese minister added that the list includes the names of three Lebanese. They are Imad Maghneyeh, Hassan Ezz Eddine and Ali Atwi who are accused of hijacking the American plane TU in 1985 and killing an American officer in it. The place of the three Lebanese persons is not known.

On the other hand, various Lebanese sides including the general court of cassation court judge Adnan Adoum on Tuesday denied for the second day he had received any list or " official book" from the Lebanese ministry of justice to this effect.