US praises Qatar moves to deny jihadists funds

The United States yesterday praised Qatar’s role in the fight against the Islamic State group and its “positive efforts” to deny the jihadists funds. A senior Treasury Department official, Daniel Glaser, is in Qatar and has held talks with Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani on the issue, the statement released by the US embassy added. Washington’s public backing comes just weeks after leaked emails alleged that presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton believed Qatar was “providing clandestine financial and logistic support” to IS. “Glaser discussed the Government of Qatar’s recent positive efforts to counter terrorist financing with Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser,” the statement from the embassy said. “The United States Government enjoys a close and ongoing relationship with the Government of Qatar in combating terrorist financing and supports Qatar’s efforts to deny terrorist financiers access to its financial system. “The United States appreciates Qatar’s role as a coalition partner in the fight against (IS).”