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Security Council panel adds four names to list of Al-Qaida operatives under sanctions

Security Council panel adds four names to list of Al-Qaida operatives under sanctions

The United Nations Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against Al-Qaida and Taliban operatives has added four names to its extensive list of those subject to the measures.

The United Nations Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against Al-Qaida and Taliban operatives has added four names to its extensive list of those subject to the measures.

The new list now includes Moroccan-born Mounir El Motassadeq, who is currently on trial in Hamburg, Germany, and Ramzi Mohamed Abdullah Binalshibh, who goes by several aliases and is now in custody in the United States.

Two individuals currently subject to an international arrest warrant issued by Germany were also added to the list: Said Bahaji, born in Germany, and Zakarya Essabar, a Moroccan citizen.

The Security Council originally adopted the measures in response to the indictment of Usama bin Laden for the 1998 terrorist bombings of US embassies in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam, and later tightened. They require States to freeze financial resources, including funds derived or generated by any undertaking owned or controlled by the Taliban, and to ensure that they are not used by the group.

Countries are also obliged to freeze funds and other financial assets of Usama bin Laden and his associates in the Al-Qaida organization, and to prevent their entry or transit through the State's territory. In addition, nations must prevent the supply, sale and transfer of all arms and materiel - along with any form of military training - to the named individuals and entities.