The US Department of State on Tuesday re-designated the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.

The move will ensure that the original designation of these two Pakistan-based outfits, which was due to lapse on December 26, 2003, is renewed.

The statement, read out by official spokesperson Richard Boucher, says: "The Secretary of State has re-designated two groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under US law effective today: Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

The initial designations of these groups in 2001 are due to expire on December 26, 2003.  By re-designating J-e-M and L-e-T as Foreign Terrorist Organisations and publishing that decision today in the Federal Register, we preserve the US government's ability to take action against them in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.

This act makes it illegal for persons in the United States or subject to US jurisdiction to provide material support to these terrorist groups. It requires US financial institutions to block assets held by them; and it enables us to deny visas to representatives of these groups.

The Secretary made this decision in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury after a thorough review of these groups' terrorist activities over the past two years.

In addition, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary has amended the designations of J-e-M and L-e-T under Executive Order 13224 to add new aliases currently in use by these terrorist organisations.

With these re-designations, the number of designated Foreign Terrorist Organisations remains at 36.

As we carry on the global campaign against terrorism, we hope this list will help to isolate these terrorist organisations, to choke off their sources of financial support, and to prevent their members' movement across international borders."