RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- After Western claims that Saudi charities funded terrorism, Saudi Arabia has announced a new agency will co-ordinate the kingdom's charity work abroad.
A statement from the royal court said the agency would shield Saudi charity work from "harmful activities which might undermine it or tarnish its reputation," the BBC reported Saturday.
Claims that Saudi charities were being used to funnel funds to terrorists began after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States in which in which 15 of the 19 suspected hijackers were Saudis.
Last month, Saudi Arabia dismissed the head of a leading charity accused by Washington of funding terrorism. No official explanation was given for dismissing Sheikh Aqil Al-Aqil, the long-time head of the Al-Haramain Association.
Families of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks filed a lawsuit accusing several Saudi charities -- including Al-Haramain -- of funding terrorism.
The Saudis had denied their charities were involved, but the government has shown a change of attitude after a wave of violence and suicide attacks occurred inside Saudi Arabia itself, the BBC said.
