UNITED NATIONS, Dec 24: The UN Security Council's Al-Qaeda-Taliban sanctions committee on Thursday imposed sanctions on two Saudi dissidents allegedly linked with Al Qaeda and the leader of a Muslim extremist group in the Philippines.

It also dropped punitive measures against a Jordanian who claims he was Osama bin Laden's bodyguard. The Security Council committee said Saudi dissident Saad al-Fagih, Saudi businessman Adel Batterjee, and Khadaffy Janjalani, leader of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group that has kidnapped Americans in the Philippines, have been added to the list of those subject to sanctions.

At the same time, it announced that Jordanian Shadi Abdellah, who was convicted of helping plan terror attacks in Germany but granted early release last month, had been removed from the list.

Mr Abdellah, who testified he acted briefly as Osama bin Laden's bodyguard while in an Al Qaeda training camp, was a government witness while in prison including against his alleged co-plotters in the German cell of the Tawhid and Jihad group, headed by a Muslim militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Earlier this month, Abdella's attorney said he had been questioned by US officials who are considering having him testify at the Virginia trial of terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui. In order for sanctions to be imposed or rescinded, all 15 members of the UN Security Council need to give their approval.