Al-Qaeda commander added to US terror list

WASHINGTON, May 5 (KUNA) - The Obama Administration on Thursday sanctioned a man described as a senior leader for the North African branch of Al-Qaeda, known as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
According to the US Department of State, Musa Abu Dawud was most recently "put in charge of a mission in Tunisia tasked with recruiting and training new members from across North Africa on the use of weapons." He is said to have begun "engaging in terrorist activity as early as 1992," and in 2012, "was appointed commander of the southern zone for AQIM" where he was responsible for multiple attacks on the Algerian and Tunisian militaries.
His addition to the US terror list and subsequent sanctioning "notifies the US public and the international community that Musa Abu Dawud is actively engaged in terrorism," the statement said.
"Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and result in denial of access to the US financial system." All property subject to US jurisdiction in which Abu Dawud has any interest is now blocked, and US citizens and residents are forbidden from engaging in any transactions with him, the statement affirmed. (end) ys.ibi