1.   American law enforcement officials have identified Middle Eastern honey shops as a source of al-Qaida financing.

2.   Another terrorist group known to have used honey shops to support its operations is Egyptian Islamic Jihad, officials said.

3.   Bin Laden is in control of a number of these retail honey shops and members of his organization are also involved, one administration official said.

4.   He added that the government found no evidence that the honey shops had any links to bin Laden, not even the two whose assets have been frozen.

5.   One official said the honey shops do not appear to be part of a larger conglomerate that might engage in such activities as manufacturing or marketing honey.

6.   One revenue source, investigators say, was a network of honey shops in the Middle East, where honey is a staple.

7.   Honey shops also often also sell perfume, incense and spices.

8.   Honey shops in Yemen also often also sell perfume, incense and spices.

9.   In Yemen, honey shops generally are spotless and well lit, and the air is sugar-sweet.