(12 Oct 2001)
1. US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill enters briefing room
2. Cutaways of staffers and journalists
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul O'Neill, US Treasury Secretary
"This morning we took the next step in the financial war. Together Secretary Powell and I notified all financial institutions in the US to block the assets of the 39 additional persons and entities that are either wanted terrorists or are known to financially support terrorism. The list includes businesses and charitable organisations that funnel money to the Al Qaida terrorist network. US assets of all 22 of the FBI's most wanted terrorists are now subject to this blocking order. Under the executive order signed by the President on September 24, all US citizens and businesses are prohibited from doing business with the people and organisations on this list."
4. Wide shot Treasury Briefing Room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) James Gurule, Treasury Undersecretary for Enforcement
"Today we add another brick to the international wall we are building against the funding of terrorist acts around the world. We are determined to paralyse the terrorist's ability to move funds through the international banking system and we are using every tool at our disposal to cut off the various sources of funding for their atrocities. The civilised world has spoken with one voice. The individuals and organisations that infuse these terrorist organisations with money are no better than the terrorists who perpetrate these heinous acts."
6. List of individuals and organisations.
7. Wide shot Treasury Department Briefing Room
STORYLINE:
The Bush administration widened its financial assault on terrorism on Friday, naming an additional 39 individuals and organisations who are to have their assets frozen.
The Treasury Department released a new list of institutions and people suspected of conducting or financing terrorist activities.
The latest move to choke terrorist funding was considered by President George Bush to be a key part of the US government's broader anti-terrorism campaign.
Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said the new list included businesses and charitable organisations that funneled money to the al-Qaida network.
He also said that assets of all 22 of the FBI's recently released "most wanted terrorists" list were now subject to the blocking order.
The new list follows up on a September 24 order by President Bush authorising a freeze on the assets of 27 people and organisations suspected of conducting or financing terrorist activities.
On Thursday, the Bush administration announced that roughly 24 (M) million US dollars in assets, including some belonging to Osama bin Laden, had been frozen by the United States and other countries since last month's terror attacks.
The US has been working closely with other nations to block the flow of money to terrorist networks, something Bush has said goes to the heart of the country's anti-terrorism campaign.
Of the 24 (M) million dollars frozen since the attacks, nearly four (M) million was blocked by the United States, the Treasury Department said.
The remaining amount was frozen by other countries.
All of the frozen assets were connected to either Saudi exile bin Laden, his al-Qaida network or Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia, a Treasury official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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