Kuwait freezes bank accounts of Saddam and his family: report

The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) has ordered to freeze the bank accounts of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his family members based on the UN Security Council decision, local newspaper Arab Times reported Tuesday.

"The earlier list of 55 (forwarded by CBK to local banks and investment companies for the freezing) has been amended to include some of the family members of Saddam, including his first wife Sajidah, and now it contains 82 persons," reliable sources were quoted as saying.

According to the CBK order, the local banks and investment companies have been strictly forbidden to deal with any of the listed persons. Kuwaiti banks are expected to clean up all such funds.

The funds shall be transferred to the Iraqi Development Fund unless the listed persons are free from legal cases involving the money in the funds.

It was reported that the Security Council's decision will also be effective on being implemented in countries like Jordan, Qatar, Syria and Lebanon, where most of the listed persons are now living.

Source: Xinhua