Accused bin Laden link now works for Iraq

WASHINGTON – An American accused in court papers of having ties to Osama bin Laden is now working for the Iraqi government’s Foreign Ministry, U.S. officials and a former CIA counterterrorism chief say.

Iraqi-born Tarik A. Hamdi was the “American contact” for one of bin Laden’s front organizations and gave a satellite telephone battery to a bin Laden aide in Afghanistan for a phone used by the terrorist leader, according to an affidavit from Customs Agent David Kane.

The affidavit was unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., along with a federal indictment charging Hamdi with lying on immigration and mortgage loan applications.

Hamdi, formerly of Herndon, Va., is now working at Iraqi diplomatic offices in Turkey, said Vince Cannistraro, a former CIA official who has known Hamdi for years and remains in contact with him through e-mail.

Two U.S. law enforcement officials said they also have been told Hamdi is working for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in Turkey. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the charges pending against Hamdi.

The State Department declined to comment. Newsweek first reported Hamdi’s employment status in its online edition Wednesday.

Hamdi has been under federal investigation and surveillance for several years, stemming from his work at the International Institute of Islamic Thought in northern Virginia. The affidavit was filed in March 2002 to obtain a search warrant for Hamdi’s home in Herndon, Va.

Prosecutors have contended at least since 2002 that Hamdi had “established links” to bin Laden and other members of al-Qaida, according to a court filing in the case against Zacarias Moussaoui.