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Allies block assets of Algerians believed tied to Al Qaida

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Friday, August 30, 2002

Italy and the United States have blocked assets of a major Islamic insurgency group in Algeria.

The two NATO allies announced the freezing of assets of 25 individuals and organizations believed connected to Al Qaida. All 11 individuals are linked to the Salafist Group for Call and Combat regarded as one of the two leading Islamic insurgency groups that operate in Algeria.

The Salafists, a splinter group of the Armed Islamic Group, are believed to have assets and agents in North Africa as well as in Italy and Spain. A U.S. Treasury Department statement said the Salafists comprise a "lethal terrorist group and its members support and finance terrorism around the globe."

U.S. officials said they are not certain whether the Salafist agents or the organizations have assets in the United States. They said they would make such a determination by Sept. 10.

The Salafist group is already on the terrorism list of the United States and the United Nations. But the Salafist group, which is believed to have links with Al Qaida, does not appear on the European Union list of terrorist groups.

"This designation of additional corporate holdings will further choke the flow of funds that facilites the financing of terrorism," Treasury Undersecretary Jimmy Gurule said.

The Salafist members whose assets have been blocked include several Tunisian nationals. They are Adel Ben Soltane who lives in Milan. The U.S. Treasury Department said Soltane was involved in the plot to attack the U.S. embassy in Rome last year. Another Tunisian national named is Tarek Ben Habib Maaroufi.

Other Tunisian nationals named are Nabil Benattia, Riadh Jelassi, Mehdi Kammoun, Lazhar Ben Mohammed Tlili and Habib Waddani. All of the Tunisians are believed living in Italy.

The only Algerian national named in the U.S. and Italian order is Abdelhalim Remadna. A Treasury Department statement said Remadna is believed to be a senior Al Qaida member.

A Moroccan national was also named as being a member of the Algerian Salafist movement. He is Yassine Chekkouri, identified by the Treasury Department as being one of the most senior agents of Al Qaida.

Samir Kishk, an Egyptian national, and Mansour Thaer, from Iraq, were also named in the order. Many of the 14 organizations cited are based in Italy. Others are in Morocco and Turkey. They were said to be either owned or controlled by Ahmed Idris Nasreddin or Youssef Nada. Both men have been designated as terrorist sponsors on the U.S. and UN lists.

Officials said the 25 names would be relayed to the UN for inclusion on its list of terrorist sponsors.

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