In issuing the new charges against men suspected of being bin Laden's associates, the government also declared more concretely than previously that bin Laden has been a major backer of terrorism groups worldwide. If Afghanistan does turn over bin Laden to Saudi Arabia, it is possible that bin Laden might be tried there, rather than in the United States. Arab officials familiar with the matter say that Prince Turki presented evidence to the Taliban of bin Laden's involvement in terrorism, but it made no difference. In his 1993 statement to investigators, Abouhalima made no mention of bin Laden,