U.S. names German man as al Qaeda backer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday named a German man who is thought to be in Afghanistan or Pakistan as an al Qaeda backer and prohibited Americans from having any dealings with him.

Treasury said any assets that Bekkay Harrach has under U.S. control are frozen and his name has been added to a United Nations list of persons associated with al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. A U.N. listing requires all member countries to freeze funds and other assets.

Treasury said the German Federal Public Prosecutor indicated Bekkay Harrach has been a Qaeda member since March 2007 and received military training in a Qaeda camp.

(Reporting by Glenn Somerville; Editing by Doina Chiacu)