The Black Vault - Bush Freezes Assets of Hamas Leaders, Backers

BURBANK, Wash. (Reuters) - President Bush on Friday announced a freeze on the assets of six leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and five organizations accused of financially supporting the group.

Bush said in a written statement that he ordered the U.S. Treasury Department to act following Tuesday's suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem, which killed 20 people.

"By claiming responsibility for the despicable act of terror on Aug. 19, Hamas has reaffirmed that it is a terrorist organization committed to violence against Israelis and to undermining progress toward peace between Israel and the Palestinian people," Bush said.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack said the six targeted leaders were Hamas fund-raisers based in Europe, and the action was part of an effort by the United States and its allies to target financial support for terror groups.

Bush, in the Pacific Northwest to promote his environmental record and raise money for his re-election campaign, said, "I call upon all nations supportive of peace in the Middle East to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and to take all appropriate actions to deny it support," Bush said.

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