The Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) has ordered all banks and other financial institutions on the island to freeze immediately the assets of any individual or organisation linked or suspected to be linked to international terrorism.

The circular also provides all banks and financial institutions with a preliminary list of 27 suspected individuals and organisations.

According to BMA's executive director for banking control, Dr Khaled Ateeq, the circular was issued under the order of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who is also the BMA Chairman.

The circular issued to all licensed banks, brokers, money changers and other financial institutions requested all to comply fully with the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1373 of 2001.

To ensure the effective implementation of this resolution, it clearly emphasised the importance for all banks and financial institutions to immediately report any transactions that are suspected to be associated with terrorism and to cooperate with the BMA.

"Complying with these resolutions will also help achieve more transparency in the banking system and preserve the reputation of Bahrain as the main banking and financial centre in the region," stated the circular.

Bahrain threw its weight fully behind international efforts to deal with money linked to suspicious activities, and ordered the freezing of the money of any organisation or individual linked to suspicious operations.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting last Sunday, the prime minister ordered the BMA to take all necessary measures to freeze the money of any organisation or individual linked in suspicious operations. This decision was taken in compliance with the international efforts in this regard.

The suspected individuals and organisations are: Al Qaida/Islamic Army, Abu Sayyaf group, Armed Islamic Group (GIA), Harakat-ul Mujahidin (HUM), Al Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Asbat Al-Ansar, Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Al-Itihaad Al Islamiya (AIAI), Islamic Army of Aden, Usama bin Laden, Muhammad Atif (aka Subhi Abu Sitta, Abu Hafs Al Masri), Sayf Al-Adl, Shaykh Sai'id ( aka Mustafa Muhammad Ahmad), Abu Hafs the Mauritania ( aka Mahfouz Ould Al Walid, Khalid Al Shanqiti), Ibn Al Shaykh Al Libi, Ab Zubaydah ( aka Zayn Al Abidin Muhammad Husayn Tariq), Abd Al Hadi Al Iraqi (aka Abu Abdallah), Ayman Al Zawahiri, Thirwat Salah Shihata, Tariq Anwar Al Sayyid Ahmad (aka Fathi, Amr al-Fatih), Muhammad Salah (aka Nasr Fahmi Nasr Hasanayn), Makhtab Al Khidamat/Al Kifah, Wafa Humanitarian Organisation, Al Rashid Trust and Mamoun Darkazanli Import-Export Company.