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Bush Freezes Assets of Terrorist Groups
The U.S. fight against terrorism moved ahead on several fronts Monday, the most significant in the form of an executive order that froze the assets of 27 people and organizations suspected of financing terrorism.
The order also threatened to freeze the U.S. assets of any government that does not cooperate in the cause to lock up all assets linked to terrorists.
In addition, Attorney General John Ashcroft lobbied for more measures to fight terrorism, and the Air Line Pilots Association urged Congress to pass legislation allowing pilots to carry firearms in cockpits.
Ashcroft asked for wiretap and surveillance capabilities and expanded powers to detain suspected terrorists. He said 352 people have now been arrested or detained, and another 392 people are being sought for questioning.
Meanwhile, Osama bin Laden ¡ª the main target of the financial order ¡ª reportedly released his own call to action, calling on Muslims to join a holy war against "the American crusade," and his hosts mobilized their forces and shut down virtually all humanitarian actions in their war-ravaged Afghanistan.
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