The United States has ordered the freezing of assets of
an Algerian insurgency group.
The State Department said the order would freeze the U.S. assets of
Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia in accordance with an executive order on
terrorism financing. Executive Order 13224 also bars Americans from most
transactions with the organization.
Daawa Salafia was said to have "engaged in terrorist activity in Algeria
and internationally and maintains ties to Al Qaida," the State
Department said. The department said the United States also supports the
inclusion of the group on the United Nations Sanctions Committee list, which
would obligate all members to impose an arms embargo, ban travel, and freeze
assets of the group.
Daawa, linked to Al Qaida, had been known as Katibat El Ahoual and led
Mohammed Benslim, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said Daawa Salafia is a splinter group from the Armed Islamic
Group, designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization.
"Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia is well organized and equipped with
military materiel, and has engaged in terrorist activity in Algeria and
internationally," the State Department said. "It is responsible for numerous
killings since the mid-1990s, and has escalated its attacks in recent
years."
Until 2001, Daawa Salafia launched attacks against Algerian targets
under the banner of the GIA. In 1998, another faction splintered from the
GIA and formed the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call.
State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said the latest designation
was issued in consultation with Justice and Homeland Security departments.
"It's on the basis of the determination that the group committed or
poses a significant risk of committing acts of terror that threaten the
security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy or
economy of the United States," Ereli said.