RIYADH, Sept 8: Confusion prevailed here on the issue of Wael Hamza Julaidan who was implicated last Friday by the US State Department of having links with the Al Qaeda network of Osama Bin Laden.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz has insisted that the US produce convincing evidence of the alleged links between Al Qaeda and the Saudi human aid worker turned businessman.

“Those who make this accusation should provide convincing evidence,” Prince Naif told the press here when asked about Friday’s US decision to freeze Julaidan’s assets.

On Friday the US Treasury Department said, “Today the United States and Saudi Arabia jointly designated Wael Hamza Julaidan, an associate of Osama Bin Laden and a supporter of Al Qaeda terror. Consequently his assets were frozen.”

Commenting on the subject Prince Naif said, “Our cooperation with other countries will be on the basis of facts, with regard to arrest of individuals or freezing of their assets.” Prince Naif reiterated Riyadh’s commitment to implement UN resolution that calls for freezing the assets of terror suspects.

Earlier Prince Nawaf, the Saudi intelligence chief expressed his surprise at the US decision.

“I hope the report is untrue because it would be unfortunate if a Saudi businessman was assisting and funding terrorism,” the Saudi intelligence chief told the Okaz daily.

Julaidan has been running the Makkah-based Rabita Islamic Trust charity since February 2000. The Rabita Trust is also supporting and coordinating the cause of repatriation of Bihari refugees from Bangladesh. Pakistani finance and interior ministers are members of the committee that was trying to generate funds for the cause, with the Rabita taking a lead role.

Julaidan told the press here he received the US decision with frustration. Speaking to the local Saudi daily Arab News he said he was contacting experts to take steps on his behalf to confront the US action. He also wanted to confirm the report that the US authorities took the decision in consultation with the Saudi Finance Ministry.

The US Treasury Department had stated that Saudi Arabia itself had forwarded Julaidan’s name to the United Nations to be added to the list of individuals and organisations that sponsor terrorism.

A source at the Muslim World League, which runs the Rabita Trust, was quoted as saying here that Julaidan had parted ways with Osama bin Laden several years ago, and well before the Sept 11 attacks, after a “dispute.” Arab News said that Julaidan had disagreed with Osama over the formation of Al Qaeda, as he believed that enthusiastic Arab youth would be uncontrollable once they returned to their native countries.

Julaidan together with Abdullah Azzam said the duty of Arab fighters should be restricted to Afghanistan and be limited to aid and military operations in tandem with the Afghan mujahideen.

After the separation, Julaidan was reported to have confined his operations towards charity and joined the Muslim World League, moving between Islamabad and Peshawar. Julaidan was an active relief worker in Afghanistan throughout the second half of the 1980s and again somewhat later for a short period this time. He was also temporarily the head of the Saudi Red Crescent Society and the Muslim World League.

He had also strong relations with most of the Afghan leaders. He was also reported to have contacts with then President General Ziaul Haq and the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.