| Gordon Brown ordered British banks yesterday to freeze assets held in the name of the new Hamas leader in Gaza, Abdel Aziz Rantissi. Using anti-terrorism powers introduced after the September 11 attacks in America, the Chancellor acted to prevent Rantisi - who has succeeded the assassinated Sheikh Ahmed Yassin - and four other Hamas leaders from gaining access to money held in British accounts. He also instructed the Bank of England to freeze the assets of two Kurdish terrorist groups. Treasury officials refused to give details of the various accounts involved or what sums were involved. |