U.S. moves against Saudi-based charity

updated 4:31 p.m. ET June 19, 2008

WASHINGTON - The United States moved Thursday to clamp down on a Saudi-based charity accused of funneling money and other support to al-Qaida.

The Treasury Department's action covers "the entirety" of Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, including its headquarters in Saudi Arabia, the government said. The action means that any assets found in the United States belonging to the charity are frozen. Americans also are prohibited from providing donations or otherwise doing business with the charity.

The United States — between 2002 and 2004 — had previously taken action against 13 branches of the charity, including locations in the United States, Afghanistan and the Netherlands.

Saudi Arabia joined the United States in putting some of the charity's branches on an asset-blocking list. And actions by Saudi authorities have largely precluded the charity from operating under its own name, the department said. However, "despite these efforts, (Al Haramain) leadership has attempted to reconstitute the operations of the organization and parts of the organization have continued to operate," Treasury said.

In a separate action, the Treasury Department lifted sanctions on a Chinese firm and its U.S. subsidiary after steps were taken to address U.S. concerns.

China Great Wall Industry Corp., had been accused of providing material support to Iran's missile program. The firm's U.S. subsidiary — G.W. Aerospace — had been designated because of its relationship to China Great Wall. They were removed from the United States' blacklist, which requires the blocking of bank accounts or other assets found in this country and bars business transactions with the firms.

"Removing China Great Wall Industry Corp. from our sanctions list marks a great success for our counter-proliferation sanctions program," said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "A company that once supported Iran's missile program has implemented a rigorous and thorough compliance program to prevent future dealings with Iran."

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