Two Saudi charity organizations yesterday categorically denied any role in funding terrorism and branded a lawsuit by relatives of the victims of the September 11th attacks as a new plot against Islamic charities. "This is yet another part of a series of accusations which started after Sept. 11th against Islamic charities," Adnan Basha, Secretary-General of the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) said. "We never had any relation with Osama Bin Laden or any other illegal organizations ... They are targeting Islamic charitable work." IIRO, one of several Islamic organizations charged in the lawsuit filed Thursday, says it is active in about 95 countries in the field of charity and relief works, mostly for orphans. Basha added: "Our work is official. Our financial records are well monitored and audited through international auditors." Last year, IIRO spent some $33 million on 2,800 projects and more than 44,000 orphans. It maintains offices in many countries, mostly in Africa and Asia.

Assistant Secretary-General of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, Abdulwahab Nour Wali, said the lawsuit was part of "an organized and well-prepared campaign. Their ultimate goal is [to target] Islam as a religion and its charity organizations." Wali said the Saudi Government regularly monitors WAMY's accounts and its fund-raising operations. Basha and Wali both said joint action was needed to confront the lawsuit.