WASHINGTON Ñ The Bush administration has deemed a group controlled by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a terrorist organization.

The administration has added the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade to its list of terrorist groups. The move imposes financial sanctions on the organization and prevents it from engaging in transactions in the United States.

The move by the administration followed a letter sent to the White House by more than 230 members of Congress that called for adding Arafat-aligned groups to the terrorist list. The letter demanded that the additional groups include Arafat's Fatah movement and his Force 17 praetorian guard.

Congressional staffers said the administration's move was the least damaging to Arafat. They said the Al Aqsa Brigade Ñ unlike Fatah and Force 17 -- is not believed to have assets abroad.

President George Bush has sent an envoy to again arrange for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. On Sunday, two Palestinian suicide attackers struck various cities in Israel during the mission of envoy Anthony Zinni.

An Israeli was killed and about 30 were injured in the Palestinian attacks. Israeli forces struck and killed at least three suspected Palestinian insurgents around the West Bank.

Israeli military sources said another Palestinian suicide bomber blew up on his way to attack Jerusalem. The sources said that in all five Palestinians were sent on suicide missions to Israel on Sunday.

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