Two Yemeni citizens, who were arrested in Germany in January, have been charged with conspiring to provide material support to al-Qaeda and Hamas, the US said today.
Attorney General John Ashcroft said Mohammed Al Hasan Al-Moayad and Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed were charged in federal court with providing support to the groups.
Al-Moayad, believed to be Osama bin Laden's "spiritual adviser", was also accused of personally handing al-Qaeda $20 million.
In testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr Ashcroft said an FBI undercover operation developed information that al-Moayad "personally handed Osama bin Laden $20 million from his terrorist fund-raising network".
Mr Ashcroft said the complaint alleges that some of the money was raised from the al Farouq mosque in Brooklyn.
"Al Moayad also claims to be Osama bin Laden's spiritual adviser," Mr Ashcroft said. He said the information was obtained through an FBI informant.
German officials said in January they had arrested the two Yemeni citizens who were linked to al-Qaeda.
A US official said the United States was seeking the men's extradition.