WAHINGTON (AFX) - The head of a Dubai company facing off a US political firestorm over its multi-billion dollar bid to takeover the operations of six major American ports has voiced optimism the deal will succeed.
In an with CNN television broadcast Sunday, Dubai Ports World chief executive officer Mohammed Sharaf said: 'As far as we're concerned the deal is going to go through.'
Government-owned DP World is taking over Britain's P&O in a 6.8 billion-dollar deal.
It has sparked a political uproar in the United States, however, amid national security fears the Dubai group would end up running six key ports operated by P&O.
US lawmakers seeking to block the deal have cited Dubai's recognition of the Taliban and alleged it turns a blind eye to the transshipment of weapons components despite the two countries close military ties.
However, Sharaf -- who was educated in the US -- stressed Britain's government had already approved the takeover.
'The British, the government has approved it, we're just waiting for next week to conclude the deal,' he told CNN.
He warned of financial consequences if US lawmakers derail the transaction.
'There are big consequences for the British market if it doesn't go through, because investors are waiting for their money, the deal has been made,' Sharaf said.
'The matter is basically waiting for the money to be transferred to the investors, if they don't, big losses are going to be there for the investors,' he cautioned.
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