UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council adopted late on Friday a sweeping counter-terrorism resolution that demands all nations freeze finances of terrorist suspects and crack down on groups who help them.The U.S.-sponsored resolution, approved by a 15-0 vote, dramatically expands the U.N. role in building a global coalition against terrorism following the Sept. 11 attacks against the United States.
The resolution also requires countries to deny safe haven to anyone responsible for, or supporting, a terror attack and criminalizes financing of such attacks.
Many of the provisions in the resolution are contained in treaties some countries have ratified or are expected to ratify. But the new measure invokes Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which makes it mandatory for the 189 U.N. member countries to implement immediately.
The main thrust of the resolution is on the financing of clandestine networks. It seeks to freeze financial assets of people who have committed, or attempted to commit, terrorist acts or participated in groups owned or controlled ``directly or indirectly'' by such people.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Members of the United Nations Security Council pause in a moment of silence, September 12, 2001 to express it's condolences to the victims of the deadly attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The United States said that it was trying to build a global coalition against 'terrorism,' including allies, Russia, China and Muslim states. President Bush spoke with the leaders of the four other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- Britain, China, France and Russia -- during the day, and Secretary of State Colin Powell conferred with officials of other states. (Reuters - Handout)
- Sep 12 8:31 PM ET