U.S. adds Arafat group to terrorist list
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, March 18, 2002
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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