Washington: The United States has blocked the assets of Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia, a group engaged in terrorist activity in Algeria and internationally, under the executive order on terror financing.

A notice published in the US Federal Register charged that the group, also known as "Horror Squadron", came under terms of a US Executive Order number 13224.

It authorises the US Secretary of State to designate foreign entities and individuals he determines, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terror that threaten security of US nationals or national security, foreign policy, or economy.

The designation of the Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia, which is effective October 17, 2003, blocks its assets in the US and bars US persons from most transactions with that entity.

The group has, however, not been designated a foreign terrorist organisation. The US plans to ask the UN to add it to its list of terrorist supporters, which will make it necessary for all member states impose an arms embargo, ban travel and freeze assets without delay.

The terror outfit, previously known as Katibat el Ahoual, emerged after its leader, Mohammad Benslim, broke from the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), which the US has designated as a foreign terrorist organisation under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

Dhamat Houmet Daawa Salafia is well organised and equipped with military material. It is responsible for numerous killings since the mid-1990s, and has escalated its attacks in recent years, a State Department release said.

PTI