US continues extended a state of emergency on assets citing terrorist threats

US President Bill Clinton extended a state of emergency originally imposed in 1995 due to "grave acts of violence committed by foreign terrorists that threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process."

The state of emergency, which must be renewed each year, also targets four individuals, including exiled Saudi Osama bin Laden. The state of emergency "blocked the assets in the United States, or in the control of United States persons, of foreign terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process" and "prohibited transactions or dealings by United States persons in such property."

"Terrorist activities continue to threaten the Middle East peace process and vital interests of the United States in the Middle East," Clinton's notice to the Federal Register on extending the state of emergency said.