Author: AP
Publication: The Business Times
Date: June 5, 2002
URL: http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/dowjones/story/0,2619,70030-190200,00.html
The head of Belgium's national security
agency abruptly resigned Wednesday amid criticism the country had become
a training ground for Islamic extremists linked to Osama bin Laden.
Godelieve Timmermans said in a letter
to the justice department she felt she could no longer effectively carry
out her work because "a climate of mistrust" in her office. She will leave
her post Aug.1.
No successor was named.
A parliamentary report leaked to
the media recently blamed the organization for failing to combat Islamic
extremism and prevent the recruitment of activists.
Members of north African extremist
groups allegedly received military training in Belgium's Ardennes forest,
according the leaked report.
Timmermans said she regretted the
report had been made public and also criticized the government for underfunding
of the agency.
Like other European nations, Belgium
has played an unwitting role in hosting extremist cells hiding among the
country's large Islamic immigrant community.