IMF backs terror funds crackdown

The measures include blocking terrorists' access to financial systems, setting up special units to track suspicious transactions and publishing lists of groups whose assets had been frozen.

IMF delegates meeting in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, also agreed a raft of measures to revive the global economy following the 11 September terrorist attacks.

Mr Brown, who chaired the meeting, called on "advanced economies" to help poorer nations survive the economic downturn by increasing development aid and debt relief.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Brown said: "All 183 members of the IMF [have backed] the special recommendations on combating the financing of terrorism.

"We are calling on all countries to take action to ensure that financial institutions are able to report suspicious transactions."

He said the IMF had agreed to help poorer countries put the measures in place, with financial support if necessary.

The so-called G20 group - 19 of the world's richest nations and the EU - has also been meeting in Ottawa, and earlier announced its support of the UN measures.

The UN measures were drawn up before the 11 September terrorist attacks on the US.

Last week, Mr Brown said £70m of funds in the UK had been frozen, belonging to 46 organisations and 16 individuals.

Financial intelligence

After the IMF meeting, he said: "We are calling on all countries to ratify and implement the United Nations instruments to counter financial terrorism.

"We've agreed that all 183 countries should consider establishing financial intelligence units to analyse potentially suspicious transactions.

"We've agreed on the need to share information and ensure co-operation between national financial intelligence units.

"And we've agreed that the IMF should provide targeted assistance, expert assistance, in some cases financial assistance, to ensure every country can play its part and has the resources to do so."

Mr Brown said all the measures should be implemented by 1 February, with progress reports at the April meetings of the IMF.

Earlier on Saturday every member of the G20 signed an action plan to cut off funding to terrorist groups, and said they would implement the plan as quickly as they could.

Anti-globalisation protests

The G20 comprises the G7 group of rich nations - the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada - plus Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and the EU.

Two of these countries - Saudi Arabia and Indonesia - are Islamic states.

The international finance meetings have attracted a total of about 2,000 anti-globalisation protesters at various locations around the city.

Despite a heavy police, presence, demonstrators succeeded in smashing store windows, including those of a local McDonald's restaurant.