Monday, September 24 8:55 PM SGT

Bush orders Bin Laden's assets in US frozen

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (AFP) - President George W. Bush signed an order to freeze Osama bin Laden's assets and those of his organization in the United States, the White House said Monday.

On Friday, Japan said it would curb the financial dealings of people linked to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia and suspected international terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

The steps were taken as the United States prepared to take retaliate for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington on September 11.

Washington has named bin Laden, living in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, as the prime suspect in the attacks.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Answers

Bush is speaking now, sounds as if he's saying if banks in other countries "support or sponsor" terrorists and their funds, their assets will be frozen in the US. Quite far-reaching.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Bush Freezes Terrorists' Assets

By SCOTT LINDLAW Associated Press Writer

September 24, 2001, 10:17 AM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Calling it a "strike on the financial foundation" of terrorists, President Bush signed an executive order Monday freezing the assets of 27 individuals and organizations.

"They include terrorist organizations, individuals, terrorist leaders, a corporation that serves as a front for terrorism and several nonprofit organizations," the president said in a Rose Garden appearance.

Bush was flanked by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill as he spoke. He made his appearance as the nation struggled with its recovery from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed more than 6,000 at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. There was some sign of optimism during the day -- the stock market opened sharply higher after a week of steep declines.

Bush said he signed the order one minute after midnight, adding, "This list is just the beginning."

[end snip]

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

You would think, if there was any hint that the US would freeze their funds, they would transfer those funds out of the US and that could be done by the touch of a few keys on the keyboard. Just thinking out loud...just maybe some of the stocks being sold in the last few days have been by some people who want to cash out and get their funds out of this country.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001