The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 3, 2001- 9 Ashcroft says much of plot was hatched outside of Afghanistan Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON - The terrorist plot against the World Trade Center and Pentagon had its roots in Afghanistan, but the conspirators were active in Europe and traveled throughout the world as they planned the suicide hijackings, Attorney General John Ashcroft said yesterday. Ashcroft again blamed the Sept. 1 I terrorist attacks on Osama bin Laden, but he stopped short of saying that the exiled Saudi militant or his al- Qaida network financed them from its headquar- ters in Afghanistan, as some intelligence officials have suggested. The attorney general said that U.S. investigators were trying to establish financial connections and that cooperative efforts with counter-terrorism authorities from other nations were beginning to '£" pay off. German authorities, for instance, announced yesterday that they had frozen 214 bank accounts on the suspicion that the funds were linked to ter- rorist activity. The European Union called on other member countries to freeze assets connected to terrorism suspects. Ashcroft made his remarks at a news confer- AP PHOTO ence with Canada's top law-enforcement official, e Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay. They discussed pending legislation in both countries to tighten security along the more-than- 4,000-mile-long border between the United States and Canada, and other measures to crack down on terrorist activity. In recent weeks, Ashcroft said, authorities have traced the threads of the conspiracy to all ends of the globe and have concluded that al-Qaida oper- ates in virtually every country. The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, which killed about 6,000 people, underscored the expanse of bin Laden's network, he said. "We believe the roots of this act of terrorism, this act of, war, were in Afghanistan," Ashcroft said. "And we believe that the branches of the activity not only found their way to the United States of America, but were present in substantial ways in Europe, and that the activities of the con- spirators carried them to destinations virtually around the globe." Since Sept. 11, Ashcroft said, investigators have conducted 540 interviews and 383 searches, issued 4,407 subpoenas and arrested or detained more than 500 individuals. He said authorities in 25 other nations have arrested or detained about 150 additional people suspected of being linked to terrorism. Since the attacks, the U.S. government also has developed evidence of 241 "serious" or "credible" threats, according to the Justice Department and had so far uncovered no firm evidence connecting bin Laden to the suspected hijackers, some of whom resided in Hamburg for a time. Authorities in Berlin announced that they had frozen $3.8 million in assets held in bank accounts across the country on suspicion that the resources or owners'had links to terrorism. Spokesman Frank Bonaldo of the German Eco- nomics Ministry said at least two of the accounts were closed in recent days in response to President Bush's executive order requesting that the assets of 27 individuals, movements and companies alleged to be associated with terrorism be frozen. One of the accounts belonged to Syrian-born Hamburg businessman Mamoun Darkazanli; the other to an undisclosed person under investiga- tion. Darkanzanli was among the 27 alleged financiers of international terrorism identified by the White House. However, he told the Los Ange- les Times in an interview after the list was released that he had no links to bin Laden. Darkazanli's name was on a joint account opened with known bin Laden accomplice Mam- douh Mamoud Salim in 1996. But Darkazanli, a naturalized German, said that account was opened solely as a favor to mutual friends of his and Salim's. He also said he had no licks to any of the Hamburg-based suspects among the suicide hijackers. Attorney General John Ashcroft answers a reporter's question at the Justice Department in Washington yesterday after meeting with Canadian Solicitor General Lawrence MacAuley. White House. In Germany, authorities said their investigation TERROR Continued from Page 1 countries in the world to put an end to this evil, the plague of the 21st century - terrorism," Karimov said late Monday. "Uzbekistan is ready to make its contribution to the cause of liquidat- ing terrorists' bases and camps in Afghanistan, and is ready to allow the use of its airspace for these purposes." Yesterday, the U.S. government presented a detailed package of information to its NATO allies * and to the government of Pakistan. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the information was also given to other countries but he declined to name them. U.S. and European officials said the evidence includes transcripts of intercepted communications along with information concerning bin Laden's par- ticipation in earlier terrorist attacks. These officials said the intelligence was supplied both by the British government and U.S. agencies. Frank Taylor, the State Department's counter-ter- rorism chief discussed the evidence with NATO rep- rp resentatives in Brussels, Belgium. In Islamabad, Pakistan, U.S. Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin pre- sented the evidence gathered thus far to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in a meeting that lasted 90 minutes. U.S. officials have acknowledged that they must establish the guilt of bin Laden and al-Qaida if they hope to retain the high ground in world public opin- ion that they have held since the Sept. 11 attacks. Some Arab leaders, although expressing support for U.S. counter-terrorism plans, have said that it is extremely important for Washington to show that it is going after the correct culprits. "We are building a very strong case against al- Qaida,' Boucher said. "This is a process of amassing information. There is a great body of evidence that indicates clearly to us and to others that al-Qaida was responsible. We have said all along we'll be sharing that information with foreign governments as we can." He said the information is classified and will not be made public for the time being. In Brussels, NATO secretary-general George Robertson said the United States offered "clear and compelling evidence." He added, "It is clear that all roads lead to al-Qaida and pinpoint Osama bin Laden as having been involved in it. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United States has not provided his government with conclu- sive evidence of bin Laden's complicity in the Sept. I 1 attacks, apparently because the CIA does not yet trust Russian intelligence services. But Putin said Russia doesn't need much more information. "We don't need additional evidence of bin Laden's participation in these attacks," he said. "That's already clear to our special services." However, Russian intelligence agencies haven't yet determined precisely what role bin Laden played, "and our American colleagues could be helpful in this respect." In Pakistan, Musharraf had repeatedly said that the administration should come forward with proof of its allegations against bin Laden. A senior Pakistani diplomatic source said Chamberlin provided a detailed outline of the case against bin Laden and al- Qaida, supported by notes and documents. t Asked whether Pakistan still needed to be con- vinced about bin Laden's possible involvement in the Sept. I1, the source said the information was more likely to be used in convincing moderate ele- ments of Afghanistan's fundamentalist Taliban regime to split from Mullah Mohammed Omar, their leader. Omar has allowed bin Laden to stay in Afghanistan - even at the risk of a U.S. mili- tary attack. But clearly Musharraf has another audience he'd like to convince. More than 10,000 supporters of a pro-Taliban Islamic party paraded through Islam- abad, the Pakistani capital, denouncing Musharraf and the United States. Police were so concerned about the crowd and the level of anti-Western emo- tion that they confined international journalists to their hotel. Meanwhile, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, struck a somewhat conciliatory tone yesterday at a news conference in the south- western Pakistani city of Quetta. Zaeef asked for negotiations with the United States and said the Bush administration should turn over proof of bin Laden's guilt to the Taliban govern- ment. "We are ready for negotiations," Zaeef said. "It is up to the other side to agree or not. Only the way of negotiation will solve our problems." COLUMBIA Continued from Page 1 League. He has been rumored to be a top candidate for Columbia's presiden- cy since March, when he was one of three finalists for Harvard University's top job but was passed over by the uni- versity's search committee in favor of former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers. Bollinger's decision to leave the University of Michigan comes at a time when it is involved in numerous multi-million dollar development projects - including the $700 mil- lion Life Sciences Initiative -- and a search for a permanent provost. With the pending departure of Bollinger and the provost position still vacant since Nancy Cantor left this summer, Newman said the regents must act hastily. Their next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19, but Newman said, "I would propose that we meet sooner." When they meet next, the regents will likely begin searching for an interim president. While Bollinger's decision to leave will undoubtedly be viewed by many as a loss, Newman said she is confident his departure will not cripple the University. "Michigan is bigger that one indi- vidual, and I wish Lee well and good luck, but we have tremendous people on this campus that could fill some big shoes. I'm really not concerned at all with the path that's been set," Newman said. Bollinger was attending an event last night in Midland and could not be reached for comment. University spokeswoman Julie Peterson declined to-comment on Bollinger's behalf. "I can't do anything until their process concludes and they make whatever announcement they're going to do," Peterson said. "I can't speculate on their process." University of Michigan Regents Larry Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills), Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) and Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich) said they did not want to discuss the issue when reached at their homes last night. "Until it all becomes official, I'm really not comfortable making any comment," Maynard said. Most University officials were not aware of'the fact Bollinger was being so closely considered until Monday when the Daily and the Columbia Daily Spectator, the New York City school's campus newspa- per, published reports indicating he was a finalist for the job. Bollinger is widely regarded on campus as someone who consults only with a few close confidants before announcing major decisions. It was no surprise, therefore, that yesterday many of the University's highest ranking executives were not yet privy to Bollinger's decision. Executive Vice President for Med- ical Affairs Gil Omenn said he did not know Bollinger had any plans to accept the Columbia position. "I very much enjoy working with President Bollinger," Omenn said. "I will respect whatever he chooses to do." University General Counsel Marvin Krislov, reached in his office yesterday afternoon, responded with a "no com- ment" when informed Bollinger had accepted the job, and added that it wasn't his business to know what the president planned to do. ThiWekIn London... You could be ... BOLLINGER Continued from Page 1 With Bollinger's support, the University has pledged hun- dreds of millions of dollars to the Life Sciences Initiative, which aims to propel the University to the forefronts of bio- logical research and technology. Construction on the Life Sciences Institute was already well under way when it was made public that Bollinger was one of the top three candidates for Harvard's top position in March. The Institute formally kicked off its activities in April with co-directors Jack Dixon and Scott Emr at the helm, and the initiative appears to have enough momentum to maintain progress. The University Board of Regents approved the bud- get and schematic design for the Biomedical Sciences Research Building at their most recent meeting. "I'm very confident in the fact that all the projects and programs Bollinger began will be carried on by his succes- sor," said MSA Treasurer Josh Samek. Bollinger was essentially the single driving force behind the soon-to-be constructed Arthur Miller Theater. It's unknown how progress on the project will continue without Bollinger at the helm of the University. It's possible that the search for a new permanent provost will be put on hold at least temporarily while the University adjusts to Bollinger's pending departure. After Nancy Can- tor left Ann Arbor to become chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this summer, Vice Presi- dent and Secretary Lisa Tedesco was appointed by Bollinger to serve as interim provost. Bollinger is currently chair of the provost search commit- tee. MSA President Matt Nolan, a member of the provost search committee charged with finding a permanent provost, said Bollinger was in attendance at the committee's " catching the red'hot hit "Mama Mia" in the West End " shopping in Covent Garden for one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry * sitting next to a rock star -in a trendy Kensington eatery Or... * cheering like crazy at a football match between Arsenal and Tottenham (that's soccer to usYanks). * taking a train this weekend to Wales for horseback riding and some of the best ' scenery in Britain Sound good? In many ways London is the classroom / for the BU London Internship .' ,' Program. Quite aside from taking ., classes in Advertising, Film, Theater,. Political Science or the Liberal Arts, you'll learn about England by living in 4 /rx f London. All the while you'll be preparing for a career when you graduate with a for-credit Internship as part of the Program. That means you'llx,% be working in London as well as , enjoying it to its fullest. Want to live and learn in y London? Call us at (617) 353-9888 'f or check us out on the web at www.bu.edu/abroad. ' 7 / r ' " .. v ,1 r J . a meeting yesterday usual. FUNDING Continued from Page 1 "Fiscal year 2002 will be down at least that much and maybe more," he said yesterday. Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), chair of the Senate Appropria- tinns Committee',, hinher educationn ered one-tenth of 1 percent each year. Doing so would garner the state anoth- er $250 million dollars in revenue. But a postponement is not support- ed by Gov. John Engler, according to spokesman Matt Resch. "At a time when the economy is slowing, cutting taxes is what needs to he done." Resch said morning and that business proceeded as uncertain future in the House. When asked if larger tuition increases were likely if higher education funding is lowered, Stevens said, "I really hesi- tate to speculate but that's the logical conclusion you would draw." State revenues are closely tied to the economy. When the economy slows, revenues drop. As the national econo- .w y ". ;' 7 ,;, .