United Nations: Despite worldwide efforts, al-Qaeda ideology continues to spread with Iraq becoming fertile ground for such activity, raising fears of more terrorist attacks, the United Nations has warned.

In a report, the Security Council Committee overseeing sanctions against al-Qaeda and Taliban said the terrorists are still "abusing" charities dedicated to religious and humanitarian activities, as they are difficult to regulate and control.

The States, it said, have succeeded in freezing bank accounts of many terrorists identified by it, but freezing properties and businesses has proved "much more challenging".

Obstacles also remain in successfully monitoring and upholding the arms embargo against al-Qaeda and Taliban, the committee reports.

Briefing reporters yesterday (Dec 1, 2003), chairman of the committee, Ambassador Heraldo Mu1oz of Chile, said Southeast Asia seemed to have become a new theatre of action in the terrorist network, drawing in al-Qaeda and another 30 to 40 groups it had helped to fund and train.

The sub-region's Governments are taking action, he said, referring to Indonesia's setting up of a financial intelligence unit.

Munoz said only 84 of the 191 United Nations member states had sent report to it on the steps taken by them to curb terrorism. That is very "disappointing, considering that about 4,000 individuals linked to al- Qaeda so far have been arrested and prosecuted in 102 nations," he added.

PTI