President George W. Bush's administration took action Wednesday against three Saudi Arabians suspected of raising money to bankroll terrorist acts and providing support to an al-Qaida affiliated group believed responsible for bombings and kidnappings in Southeast Asia.
The action covers Abdul Rahim Al Talhi, Muhammad Abdallah Salih Sughayr and Fahd Muhammad Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khashiban, the Treasury Department said. Any assets belonging to the men found in the United States must be frozen. Americans also are forbidden from doing business with them.
The department accused the three of providing support to the Abu Sayyaf Group, an al-Qaida-linked terrorist group, and serving as "significant sources of financial and other support" to terrorists in Southeast Asia. "These three terrorist financiers were instrumental in raising money to fund terrorism outside of Saudi Arabia. In order to deter other would-be donors, it is important to hold these terrorists publicly accountable," said Stuart Levey, the department's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. |