Saudis agree to help Australia track money

CANBERRA, Australia, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia has agreed to report all donations from its citizens or organizations to the Australian Islamic community to that country's government.

The Weekend Australian reports that the government made the secret arrangement during a meeting July 7 between visiting Saudi officials and Australian diplomats. Australian officials raised concerns about Saudi donations being used to fund extremist and terrorist organizations.

"Australia is committed to working closely with other governments to ensure funding for organisations in Australia is for legitimate religious purposes and does not get misdirected to those who would harm Australia," a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Australian.

Saudis have donated millions of dollars in the past 30 years for schools, mosques and other Muslim institutions in Australia. But members of the Muslim community say that donations have dropped sharply since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.