U.S. supports U.N. sanctions against group

The U.S. State Department on October 20 froze the U.S. assets of Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia in accordance with an executive order on terrorism financing. Executive Order 13224 also bars U.S. persons from most transactions with the organization, which has engaged in terrorist activity in Algeria and internationally, and which maintains ties to al-Qaeda.

The United States also supports the inclusion of Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia on the U.N. 1267 Sanctions Committee's consolidated list, which "will obligate all Member States to impose an arms embargo, ban travel, and freeze assets without delay," according to the statement by Adam Ereli, State Department deputy spokesman.

Following is the text of the statement:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
October 20, 2003

STATEMENT BY J. ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Designation of Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia under Executive Order 13224

The State Department has designated Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia (DHDS) pursuant to section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 on terrorism financing.

Executive Order 13224 authorizes the Secretary of State to designate foreign entities and individuals he determines -- in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Homeland Security -- to have committed, or to pose 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 U.S. The designation of the Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia, which is effective October 17, 2003, blocks its assets in the U.S. and bars U.S. persons from most transactions with that entity.

This group, previously known as Katibat el Ahoual, emerged after its leader, Mohammed Benslim, broke from the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224. Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia is well organized and equipped with military materiel, and has engaged in terrorist activity in Algeria and internationally. It is responsible for numerous killings since the mid-1990s, and has escalated its attacks in recent years.

Because this group has links to al-Qaeda, the United States will also support its inclusion on the U.N. 1267 Sanctions Committee's consolidated list maintained pursuant to U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1267, 1390 and 1455. The 1267 Committee listing will obligate all Member States to impose an arms embargo, ban travel, and freeze assets without delay.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)