[JURIST] The European Court of First Instance [official website] Wednesday ruled that the European Union [official website] can freeze the assets of suspected terrorists under its treaty powers [PDF press release; judgment text]. The court dismissed complaints from alleged al Qaeda associates, Yassin Abdullah Kadi, Ahmed Ali Yusuf, and the Al Barakaat International Foundation, who had their bank accounts blocked by the EU. The court held that the bloc had the power to enforce the decisions of the UN Security Council [official website], which recommends whose assets should be frozen for alleged links to Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda network and the Taliban. The court found the European Community competent to order the freezing of funds in connection with the fight against terrorism. Reuters has more.