Riyadh gives $100M for UN counterterrorism

Riyadh: A state-linked news website in Saudi Arabia says the kingdom has donated $100 million (Dh367 milliom) to the United Nations International Centre for Counterterrorism.

There was no immediate response from the UN centre about whether the funds had been received. However, the Saudi pledge of $100 million initially was announced in August.

The Arab News reported Thursday that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked Saudi Arabia for its support to the centre during a meeting with Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal in Switzerland just before the start of peace talks over the Syrian civil war.

Saudi Arabia is a staunch supporter of Syria’s opposition and funds Islamist rebel movements that Syrian President Bashar Al Assad accuses of supporting Al Qaida-linked militants.

The UN counterterrorism centre was established in 2011.