Efficiency of Saudi Anti-Terror Coalition Questionable - Italian Lawmaker

Saudi-led counter-terrorism coalition is unlikely to be efficient, as Riyadh is suspected of supporting extremism, the leader of Italy's Lega Nord party told said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced the creation of an Islamic military alliance of 34 states to fight terrorism. The joint operation command center will be based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

"Those who finance terrorism — fight against terrorism? This is hard to believe," Matteo Salvini told reporters.

Besides Saudi Arabia, the alliance includes Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Turkey, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Somalia, Guinea, the Palestinian National Authority, the Union of the Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.

Ten other Islamic countries have expressed their support for the newly created coalition.

Saudi Arabia has been repeatedly accused of funding terrorism, both by countries in the region and some Western lawmakers.