Washington: US targets Al Shabaab leaders finances...

[General Duke]

US cracks down on alleged Somali terrorists

 

WASHINGTON: The Bush administration imposed financial sanctions Thursday on three alleged leaders of an extremist Islamic militia in Somalia.

 

The three targeted by the Treasury Department are suspected leaders of al-Shabaab, which the United States claims is linked to the al-Qaida terrorist group. Al-Shabaab has used intimidation and violence to undermine the Somali government and threaten activists working for peace, the Treasury alleged.

 

Any banks accounts or other financial assets belonging to the alleged leaders found in the United States must be frozen. Americans also are forbidden from conducting business transactions with them.

 

One of those targeted, Mukhtar Robow, is spokesman for al-Shabaab and a military commander with the group. His forces are accused of launching attacks last year on Somali government military bases as well as African Union peacekeeper in Mogadishu, the department said. He also is accused of playing a role in a deadly 2006 attack in Baidoa, Somalia.

 

Ahmed Abdi Aw-Mohamed, the alleged founder and leader of al-Shabaab, also was targeted. The department said he claims his group was responsible for assassination of a judge in Beledweyne, Somalia, last year. The department also alleges that he coordinated attacks on Ethiopian troops in Somalia last year.

 

Issa Osman Issa has served as a commander in al-Shabaab. The government said he led an assault last year against Mogadishu's Basil Hotel, often frequented by Ugandan peacekeepers.

 

"These terrorist commanders have had direct involvement in the kidnapping and cold-blooded murders of numerous Somali officials and civilians and they should be cut off form the world's financial system," said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 

The United States action comes as calls mount to the United Nations to send peacekeepers to Somalia, as piracy off the east African nation's sprawling coast has spiraled out of control. Well-organized bandits have attacked 95 ships this year in the Gulf of Aden and hijacked 39 of them.

 

Eight vessels have been seized in the last two weeks alone — including a massive Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of crude oil. Treasury said its action on Thursday was not related to the piracy problem.

 

Source: AP

[General Duke]

Any banks accounts or other financial assets belonging to the alleged leaders found in the United States must be frozen. Americans also are forbidden from conducting business transactions with them.