WASHINGTON, Oct 5: The United States has redesignated 25 groups as foreign terrorist organizations under US law. The Harkatul Mujahideen remains on the list, which was issued by Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday.
The fresh issuance of the list of terrorist organizations, which includes Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda, had become necessary because the initial designation of these groups made in 1977 and 1999 is due to expire on Monday.
Secretary Powell said by redesignating them as foreign terrorist organizations, the US was continuing measures against these groups in accordance with the provisions of the Anti-terrorism and Effectice Death Penalty Act.
The act makes it illegal for persons in the US or subject to US jurisdiction to provide material support to terrorist groups, requires US financial institutions to block assets held by them, and enables the US to deny visas to representatives of these groups.
