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03-24-2004, 10:12 AM
UK freezes Hamas leader's assets
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has ordered British banks to freeze assets of the new Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi.
Four other leaders of the Palestinian militant group are targeted, on suspicion of being involved in commissioning acts of terrorism.
The news came as Mr Rantissi dismissed Israeli threats to kill him.
He was appointed on Tuesday, after Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed by Israeli missiles.
Israel has vowed to kill more top militants, while Mr Rantissi has urged Hamas to avenge Sheikh Yassin's death.
The door is open for you to strike all places, all the time and using all means
Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi Listen to Mr Rantissi on The World Today
Israel's security forces have been on high alert in expectation of a Hamas revenge attack.
Its borders with Palestinian areas in the West Bank have been sealed and security checks have been stepped up.
In several clashes over the last day:
Israeli troops shot dead two Hamas fighters they say were trying to attack the Jewish settlement of Morag in the southern Gaza Strip
Israeli tanks entered the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and bulldozers destroyed several houses overlooking a Jewish settlement, forcing a number of families to flee
Israeli naval gunships are reported to have fired at targets in the Gaza Strip
Israeli helicopter gunships struck at what Israel called a band of guerrillas in south Lebanon at the same time, killing at least one.
'No security'
Israelis "will know no security", Mr Rantissi told crowds of mourners at Gaza's soccer stadium.
He said he was not afraid of Israeli attempts to kill him.
"If it's cardiac arrest or an Apache (helicopter), I prefer to be killed by an Apache," Mr Rantissi told reporters.
Mr Rantissi later made it clear that Hamas had no plans to attack US targets, apparently backing away from veiled threats issued after Sheikh Yassin's death.
He told reporters in Gaza that Hamas activities were aimed solely at Israel.
"We are inside Palestinian land and acting only inside Palestinian land. We are resisting the occupation - nothing else," he said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/3563989.stm
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has ordered British banks to freeze assets of the new Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi.
Four other leaders of the Palestinian militant group are targeted, on suspicion of being involved in commissioning acts of terrorism.
The news came as Mr Rantissi dismissed Israeli threats to kill him.
He was appointed on Tuesday, after Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed by Israeli missiles.
Israel has vowed to kill more top militants, while Mr Rantissi has urged Hamas to avenge Sheikh Yassin's death.
The door is open for you to strike all places, all the time and using all means
Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi Listen to Mr Rantissi on The World Today
Israel's security forces have been on high alert in expectation of a Hamas revenge attack.
Its borders with Palestinian areas in the West Bank have been sealed and security checks have been stepped up.
In several clashes over the last day:
Israeli troops shot dead two Hamas fighters they say were trying to attack the Jewish settlement of Morag in the southern Gaza Strip
Israeli tanks entered the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and bulldozers destroyed several houses overlooking a Jewish settlement, forcing a number of families to flee
Israeli naval gunships are reported to have fired at targets in the Gaza Strip
Israeli helicopter gunships struck at what Israel called a band of guerrillas in south Lebanon at the same time, killing at least one.
'No security'
Israelis "will know no security", Mr Rantissi told crowds of mourners at Gaza's soccer stadium.
He said he was not afraid of Israeli attempts to kill him.
"If it's cardiac arrest or an Apache (helicopter), I prefer to be killed by an Apache," Mr Rantissi told reporters.
Mr Rantissi later made it clear that Hamas had no plans to attack US targets, apparently backing away from veiled threats issued after Sheikh Yassin's death.
He told reporters in Gaza that Hamas activities were aimed solely at Israel.
"We are inside Palestinian land and acting only inside Palestinian land. We are resisting the occupation - nothing else," he said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/3563989.stm