Washington: The United States has added three foreign individuals and an organisation believed to be linked to a leading Islamic extremist group in Algeria to its list of suspected terrorist financiers.

The US Treasury Department listed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, Mustapha Nasir Ait El Hadi and Djamel Lounici "in response to the recent submission by another country of these names to be listed as terrorists by the United Nations."

The three are designated for their alleged involvement in the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC).

GSPC, previously designated as a terrorist organisation, "continues to conduct operations aimed at government and military targets in Algeria and has ties to Al-Qaida," the Department said.

The Al-Bakoun ala al-Ahd organisation is also named for providing support to GSPC.

"Today's action is taken under obligations to freeze the assets of individuals and organisations listed by the UN and is consistent with the Financial Action Task Force's Special Recommendation III on Terrorist Financing," the Department said.

PTI