U.N. moves to freeze assets of `terrorists'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, SEPT. 28. The United Nations Security Council is expected to pass a resolution that will freeze the financial assets of terrorists and also expand the world body's role in fighting terrorism. The resolution initiated by the United States is expected to be finalised by Monday when the General Assembly will start a three-day debate on terrorism.

It has surprised some that the Bush administration has gone to the Security Council with the resolution given the apprehension in official circles that the world body may be lukewarm to the proposal. Further, it was feared that the U.N. would seek to dilute any U.S. plan against terrorists and Afghanistan in general. The draft resolution, which was introduced by the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Mr. John Negroponte, wants a wide-ranging ban - political, military and financial - on people and ``entities'' involved in terrorism. The U.N. is bringing the resolution under Chapter 7 of the Charter which will make it mandatory on all member-nations.

The Bush administration had two reasons to involve the U.N. First, a number of countries have stressed the need to involve the U.N. in the fight against terrorism. Also, Washington has been getting some unprecedented support from the Permanent Five, especially from Russia and China. Different aspects of the four- page resolution are being debated on with the focus on the clandestine network of the terrorists and their finances. The U.S. wants to not only cut off the funds supply to terrorists but criminalise fund-raising. The resolution will also condemn providing safe havens to terrorists.

The Security Council resolution will not have in its text the Executive Order issued by the White House this week listing 27 organisations, individuals and entities involved in terrorism. The idea is to have an all-encompassing resolution with the threat of sanctions. But right now, diplomats are focussed on reaching an agreement on the draft.

The Bush administration has said that military strikes against Afghanistan are not ``imminent''. However, there are reports that elite American and British commandos are already in Afghanistan trying to hunt down Osama bin Laden and his chief associates. The USA Today said three to five-member teams of U.S. commandos were in Afghanistan for the last two weeks with instructions to kill or capture Bin Laden or restrict him to an area until air strikes are launched. But the teams have reportedly found it difficult to locate Bin Laden and have asked Central Asian nations for intelligence support. The Pentagon has refused to comment on the report.

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Section  : International
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