U.S. Takes Action Against Venezuelan Hezbollah Supporters

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration took action yesterday against a Venezuelan official and others accused of providing financial support to the Hezbollah terror group.

The Treasury Department's action covers Ghazi Nasr al Din, whom America identified as a Venezuelan diplomat. The order also targets Fawzi Kan'an and two Venezuelan-based travel agencies — Biblos and Hilal — that he allegedly owns or controls.

Mr. Kan'an denied the Treasury Department's accusations. "That's pure lies," he told the Associated Press. "What do I have to do with Hezbollah? I don't know the group, don't know anyone."

Any financial assets found in America belonging to those designated yesterday must be frozen. Americans are forbidden from doing business with them.

"It is extremely troubling to see the government of Venezuela employing and providing safe harbor to Hezbollah facilitators and fund-raisers," the director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, Adam Szubin, said.