Bush expands power to freeze Iraqis’ assets
US President George Bush has expanded an order freezing the US assets of former members of Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq.
Published On 30 Aug 2003
He has given the US government authority to seize the wealth of immediate family members of the officials.
The order allows the government to seize any assets in the United States belonging to family members of 55 officials – including the ousted Iraqi leader – covered under an earlier presidential freeze order.
Legal technicality
The order does not actually initiate steps to seize the assets of additional individuals.
White House spokesman Claire Buchan described the action as a legal technicality bringing the United States into line with a UN resolution passed in May.