Australia Blacklists Al- Qaeda Affiliated al-Nusra Front

MELBOURNE,(ST)_ The Australian government has placed  the terrorist ( al-Nusra Front) Organization on its terrorist blacklist, in a second measure of its kind, taken   globally against this Takfiri organization , after the USA.

 The Australian Associated Press Agency AAP, quoted that  , Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr as saying  in a statement on Sunday  that “Australia has decided to include al-Nusra Front as a terrorist organization to try to starve the group of funding and support.”

The listing means anyone in Australia who makes funds or assets available to the group could face up to 10 years in jail.

Assets known to be owned or controlled by Al-Nusra must be frozen and reported immediately to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Carr said the Al-Nusra Front, which has 5000 fighters in Syria, had a history of suicide attacks and bombings.

”I’m advised Al-Nusra is active against the Syrian military but also against civilian targets,” he said. ”There is no place for violent extremist groups such as Al-Nusra in Syria or elsewhere.”

Minister  Carr said there was evidence the Al-Nusra Front had direct links with al-Qaeda in Iraq, which supplied it with weapons, recruits and equipment.

The US placed the group on its terrorism blacklist in December, citing its links to al-Qaeda.

T. Fateh