Arab businessman accused by USA of links with Mugabe regime firmly denies wrongdoing and takes immediate steps  to clear his name

Thamer Al Shanfari denies accusations made by the US Authorities an 25 July 2008 that he is linked to the l4ugabe regime In Zimbabwe and issues application to US Treasury to remove himself from their sanctions list and clear his name

Thamer Al Shanfari ("Mr Al Shanfari"), former Chairman of the defunct Caymanbased mining company Oryx Natural Resources Limited ("ONR"), today issued a statement firmly denying allegations that he is associated with the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe and expressing deep shock at the error by the US Government in placing him on their sanctions list as a result of his alleged links with ONR. Mr Al Shanfari's solicitors, London based firm The Khan Partnership, are filing an application to the US Treasury this week to remove his name from the sanctions list published by US President George Bush last Friday, 25 July 2008.

Sadly this is not the first time that Mr Al Shanfari has been falsely accused. In 2001 the BBC was forced to publish and also air on television an unreserved apology to Mr Al Shanfari, in relation to a story which appeared on BBC News about links to the diamond trade.

The current furore centres on the US Government's incorrect contention made on 25 July 2008 that Mr Al Shanfari was involved in supporting the Mugabe regime through a diamond company called ONR. Today Mr Al Shanfari's lawyer, Mr Hassan Khan of The Khan Partnership LLP, pointed to the simple fact that his client's involvement in Oryx ended on 12 December 2002 when he resigned as Chairman.

The company was then taken over and managed by Dr. Issa Al Kawari ("Dr. Al Kawari"), the former Information Minister of Qatar and whose offices manage the investments of the former Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani ("Sheikh Khalifa"). Dr. Al Kawari became Chairman of ONR on 1 January 2003, and his associate Mr Geoffrey White, acted as CEO for ONR; he is currently CEO of Lonrho Plc.

The former US Ambassador Frances Cook was also at the time an ONR Board Member; From the summer of 2004, ONR was managed by an investment company owned by Dr. Al Kawari and Sheikh Khalifa called African Mining Investments Limited ("AMIL").

In November 2005, AMIL voted its ONR shares in favour of the mine being developed and managed under their direct supervision by First African Diamonds Limited. It is therefore clear that Mr Al Shanfari's involvement with ONR ended on 12 December 2002 when he resigned as its Chairman.

Mr Khan said:

"It is unacceptable that our client has been falsely accused in this way, based on a wholly inaccurate factual source presented to the US authorities and when a cursory glance at the facts show that he has had no involvement in the company since 2002. Since that time control of the mine and the company has moved on several times: First African Diamonds Ltd took over operation of the mine in November 2005, at which time production of diamonds actually ceased; Oryx then went into liquidation and into the control of liquidators Grant Thornton LLP (April 2007).

The naming of our client is based on a fundamental error of fact and will cause unjustified damage to our client's reputation. We are taking formal steps today to clear his name, beginning with a formal application to the US Treasury to have his name removed from the sanctions list. We will also be enquiring of the US Authorities, through Court action if necessary, as to the source of their inaccurate information and taking appropriate steps against the inaccurate source to ensure that these fabrications immediately cease.

Mr Al Shanfari said today:

"I resigned as Chairman of Oryx Natural Resources Ltd in December 2002 and have not been to Zimbabwe since then. Dr Issa Al Kawari became Chairman and took over management of ONR with Mr Geoffrey White. I have no wish to be associated with those who support the Mugabe regime. The US Government has relied upon incorrect intelligence and it is urgent that they put this mistake right, including naming the source of their incorrect information. My lawyers have been instructed to remove my name from the US Treasury's sanctions list, through an immediate formal applicatiQn and Court action if necessary".

Press release issued by The Khan Partnership LLP on behalf of Thamer Al Shanfari, London, August 1 2008