Terror

BANKS have frozen the assets of an Australian group accused of having terrorist links, invoking emergency United Nations anti-terror sanctions for the first time in this country.
The group, International Sikh Youth Federation or ISYF, is banned in Britain and recently joined a long list of others branded terrorists by the United States, including Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
A spokeswoman for Justice and Customs Minister Customs Minister Chris Ellison confirmed bank accounts held by the ISYF in Australia had been frozen, consistent with an international agreement signed after September 11.
The group's Australian president Karnail Singh denied any link to terrorists fighting for an independent Sikh homeland in India's northern Punjab state, which borders Pakistan and the disputed Kashmir province.
Mr Karnail Singh said the clam...