White House Watch: Freeze on U.S. assets of Saddam's kin
The U.S. Treasury Department has placed six sons of Saddam Hussein's half brother and former presidential adviser on a list aimed at blocking access to property held by them or by persons acting on their behalf in the United States.
"This action targets the money flows of former regime elements actively supporting attacks against coalition forces and the Iraqi people," said Stuart Levey, the Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. Treasury said that the six Saddam nephews provided support to groups carrying out attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces and maintained communication with several insurgent groups throughout northern and central Iraq.
One of those listed, Yasir Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan Al-Tikriti, has transferred funds to regime loyalists, including a large sum of money to Saddam's wife on the former leader's behalf, say Treasury officials. The U.S. government is also submitting the names of these individuals to the United Nations, recommending that they be put on another list that requires U.N. member states to identify and freeze assets of senior officials of the former Iraqi regime, including assets owned or controlled by persons acting on their behalf.
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