UNITED NATIONS, July 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN Security Council extended on Friday the sanctions against al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden,the Taliban and their associates for a further 17 months.

    The Council unanimously adopted resolution 1617 (2005), stressing the importance of meeting the continuing threat to international peace and security posed by terrorism.

    According to the resolution, all countries should take the measures previously imposed by resolutions 1267 (1999), 1333 (2000)and 1390 (2002) regarding a freeze of assets, a ban on travel and a weapons embargo aimed at those groups and individuals.

    It also reiterated the need for close cooperation and exchange of information among the "Al-Qaida and Taliban Committee" (the 1267 Committee), the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the "1540 Committee" regarding proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

    The Council further decided that any act or activity which is "associated with" al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban should be forbidden.

    These acts or activities included participation in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of; supplying arms to; recruiting for; orotherwise supporting acts or activities of al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban, or any cell, affiliate, splinter group or derivative thereof. Enditem