Clinton designates al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula operative as "global terrorist"

 WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton designated on Tuesday al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula operative "Fahad Mohammad Ahmad Al-Quso" as a global terrorist.
The State Department said in a statement that Al-Quso was designated under Executive Order 13224 "which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism." Al-Quso was also added to the United Nations (UN) 1267 Sanctions Committee's Consolidated List of individuals associated with al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
"These actions will help stem the flow of finances to, and inhibit the travel of, this dangerous operative", noted the statement.
While State Department Counterterrorism Daniel Benjamin said that the designation of Fahad Al-Quso "highlights US action against the threat posed to the United States by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula".
"Today's joint designation by the United States and the United Nations alerts the public that Fahd al-Quso is actively engaged in terrorism. These actions expose and isolate individuals like Al-Quso and results in denial of access to the global financial system", he added.
The State Department noted that prior to the formation of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Al-Quso "was associated with al-Qaeda elements in Yemen and involved in the 2000 USS Cole bombing in the Port of Aden, which killed 17 U.
S. citizens" and mentioned he was added on November 2009 to the list of the FBI's most wanted terrorists.
The designation under Executive Order 13224 blocks all al-Quso's property interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions for the benefit of Al-Quso.
"The actions taken against this AQAP operative demonstrate international resolve in eliminating AQAP's ability to execute violent attacks and to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat their networks. This designation represents just one phase of the US Government's response to the threat posed by AQAP", concluded the State Department. (end) jm.hb KUNA 071940 Dec 10NNNN