The US President Mr George W Bush said today he has frozen the assets of a leading Islamic foundation in the United States and two other overseas charities.
He said the groups were suspected of aiding the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"Hamas has obtained much of the money that it pays for murder abroad right here in the United States," he declared.
Mr Bush said federal agents had raided offices of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development in Texas, California, New Jersey and Illinois, and frozen assets of a bank and holding company linked to Hamas.
In addition to the foundation, which raised $13 million dollars in 2000, the move affected the Al Aqsa International Bank and the Beit El-Mal Holdings Company, both based in the Palestinian territories.
"The message is this: those who do business with terror will do no business with the United States - or anywhere else the United States can reach," Mr Bush said at the White House.
"The net is closing. Today, it just got tighter," said Mr Bush, who declared a global war on terrorism after September 11th.
US Treasury Secretary, Mr Paul O'Neill, speaking after President Bush, said that governments worldwide have frozen $61 million dollars belonging to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
AFP