Powell moves to designate group as terrorist organization
13:56 ET
Associated Press Newswires
Copyright 2002. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States said Thursday it is taking steps to designate the Al Aqsa Brigades, a Palestinian militia, as a foreign terrorist organization.
The brigades are linked to the Fatah faction of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The disclosure came hours after Al Aqsa claimed responsibility for a terrorist act in a Jerusalem shopping area in which a Palestinian suicide bomber killed himself and two bystanders. At least 60 were wounded.
State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said Secretary of State Colin Powell began taking steps to designate Al-Aqsa a foreign terrorist organization on Tuesday and notified Congress on Wednesday.
It is illegal for Americans to provide financial support for groups so designated.
Reeker, asked about links between Al Aqsa and Arafat, said the connection between the group and the top Palestinian leadership was unclear.
The administration has come under strong pressure from members of Congress in recent days to declare Al Aqsa a terrorist organization.
After the suicide bombing, Powell called Arafat and demanded that he condemn the attack, Reeker said. Powell added, according to Reeker, "The time to act is now."
Since so many have died in its name, "martyrs" called to action by the rantings of Imams at the altar, how about just declaring the Al Asqa Mosque an Al Queda training camp and sending a bunker buster in its general direction.