Albania steps up control over Islamic charities ahead of Bush visit

TIRANA, May 15 – Albanian intelligence police have stepped up control over Islamic nongovernmental organizations that operate in the country ahead of U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit next month.
The local newspaper Shqip reported Tuesday that the Shish anti-terrorist department of the secret police have begun intensive surveillance of all Islamic foundations and other organizations fearing any terrorist attack during the visit.
The Islamic associations have often changed names and managers, some from Arab countries. They are now Albanian youngsters, often those who have graduated from schools in Arab countries. Secret police officials have verified this Arab involvement in court testimony. Renaming of Islamic organizations was considered an effort to rid themselves of links with the Islamic organizations sometimes included in U.S. or U.N. lists of being involved in terrorist acts.
These groups are also being checked for their sources of funding and are all to be kept under intensive surveillance until after Bush’s visit to the country June 10.
Some foundations with links to the al-Qaeda terrorist group have been either disbanded or have moved their activities out of Albania since the 1998 terrorist attacks on U.S. Embassies in Africa and the September 11 attacks.
“There is no doubt but all are being kept under control,” said an unidentified secret police official.