Asia Times: Australia blocks accounts linked to terrorists


	October 4, 2001	atimes.com

Oceania

Australia blocks accounts linked to terrorists

SYDNEY - The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has taken action to block accounts in Australia linked to possible terrorists. The RBA said that it has been directed by the Commonwealth Government to take steps under the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations to block any accounts which might be held in Australia by persons or organizations identified by the United Nations and the United States as terrorists or their sponsors.

The RBA said that the action is part of the Commonwealth's response to the United Nations resolution on the matter and US President George W Bush's request to countries to support measures being taken by the United States against terrorists and their sponsors. It builds upon the existing sanctions against the Taliban, which have been in place since December 1999.

"With effect from today, the Reserve Bank has taken action to block any accounts that might exist in the names listed below," the RBA said in a statement. It has prohibited transactions involving the transfer of funds or payments to, by the order of, or on behalf of Osama bin Laden and the Al-Qaida organization, among others. The RBA has also written to financial institutions asking them to inform it of the existence of any of the specified accounts.

(Asia Pulse)