Vietnam orders banks to check for militants' cash
HANOI - Vietnam's central bank has asked
commercial banks to check their books for accounts possibly
held by individuals and organizations classified as terrorists
by the United States.
``The (Communist) Party and the government have expressed
their readiness to cooperate with the United States within
their limits,'' said the letter from the State Bank of Vietnam,
a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Friday.
The letter was sent to banks and foreign bank branches in
Vietnam on Monday.
The letter listed the people and organizations whose assets
in the United States were ordered frozen by President Bush as part of his war against terrorism late last month.
The list included the prime suspect in the September 11
attacks on the United States, Osama bin Laden , and his al Qaeda network.
``Banks are requested to soon take active measures to check
records of their entire system to find out assets, accounts
related to the terrorists as per the list attached,'' the
central bank said.
Vietnam has responded to the U.S.-led attacks on
Afghanistan by saying it opposes all terrorist acts and
supports efforts aimed at eliminating terrorism.
The communist government has called on parties involved in
the Afghan crisis not to spread the conflict and to find a
solution to restore peace.
Security in the capital Hanoi has been tightened around
foreign missions since Monday. Police armed with automatic
rifles guarding embassies have begun wearing bullet-proof vests
and helmets.
Security is particularly tight around the embassies of the
United States, France, Japan and of the world's largest Muslim
country, Indonesia.
Reuters - October 12, 2001.
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