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| Africa North |
| US freezes assets of 4 in Algerian branch of Al-Qaeda |
| 2008-07-18 |
| US authorities slapped sanctions Thursday on four suspected leaders of an Algerian branch of Al-Qaeda, saying the group had carried out "numerous attacks" in Algeria. The US Treasury designated the four leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), who had been were added to a United Nations list of people linked to Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Those named included Salah Gasmi, identified as the head of the group's information committee; Yahia Djouadi, based in northern Mali and and leader of a cell that includes southern Algeria; Ahmed Deghdegh, identified as the group's finance chief and designated negotiator; and Abid Hammadou, a deputy leader a battalion based in northern Mali. According to US officials AQIM carried out three attacks east of Algiers in early June 2008, including a bombing near a train station that killed a French national. The group was also believed to be responsible for the abduction of two Austrian tourists in Tunisia in February. One leader of the group told the New York Times in July that the group was prepared to attack the United States or its interests anywhere in the world. The US action will freeze any assets of the individuals and prevent any Americans from financial dealings with them. "Algeria has shown remarkable courage in the face of horrifying terrorist attacks against its people," said Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). "The four terrorists that we have targeted today are among the most culpable for this violence, as leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb." |
| Posted by:Fred |