(Unlawful) access to bin Laden's bank accounts

[Maria Farrell]

I've just come across a story in a right wing US 'zine about US intelligence
agency-sponsored
hacks on accounts held by Osama bin Laden in European banks.

A 'US official' and the director of iDefense, a risk assessment firm in
Virginia, are the sources
 for a story on successful hacks on bank accounts and cell phones held by Osama
bin Laden's organisation.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/2/8/221142.shtml

Just wondering, what would the legal status be of activities like this?
Especially with the US
 signing the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime later this year.

Maria Farrell