Venezuelan diplomat denies funneling money to al-Qaida

Posted by click at 1:51 AM in terror

A Venezuelan diplomat accused in a $100 million lawsuit of helping direct money to Osama bin Laden after the terrorist attacks has asked the FBI to investigate the former presidential pilot who made the accusation, officials said. Walter Marquez, Venezuela's ambassador to India, met with an agent in Miami on Thursday to file a complaint, FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said. Marquez is responding to allegations made last month by Juan Ramon Diaz, who accused him and President Hugo Chavez of transferring $1 million to the Taliban and al-Qaida shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The money was disguised as humanitarian aid to the Taliban, and Marquez arranged to take the money to Afghanistan, according to the lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch. Diaz's wife allegedly died in the World Trade Center attacks, and the lawsuit asks for $100 million in damages. Marquez said Diaz is lying about the alleged donations to al-Qaida. Marquez displayed letters and bank receipts during a press conference at the Venezuelan Consulate in Miami in an attempt to prove the government made legitimate contributions of $1 million to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees to be used for Afghan aide. He said an additional $1 million was also given to the Indian government for an earthquake relief fund. Diaz fled Venezuela in January, saying he feared for his family's safety. He sought asylum in the United States, but his whereabouts could not be determined Thursday night. The lawsuit does not name the victim but said she was a 47-year-old U.S. national who was at a meeting in the center's South Tower when a hijacked United Airlines jet hit the building below her. The suit was filed on behalf of her husband, two teenage daughters and parents by Judicial Watch. Marquez also has filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against Diaz.

Information from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel,

Last modified: February 21. 2003 12:58AM