Three men believed to be from Birmingham and a city-based charity - the Sanabel Relief Agency Limited - have had their assets frozen worldwide over alleged links to an al Qaida terror group.

Two other men, including one thought to be from the Midlands, and three firms have also been accused of being involved in financing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

A Treasury spokesman said: "All UN member states are obliged to implement an asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo on all listed individuals and entities."

Three of the men - Abd Al-Rahman Al Faqih, aged 46, Ghuma Abd'rabbah, aged 48, and Abdulbaqi Mohammed Khaled, aged 48 - are said to be based in Birmingham.

The other two are Tahir Nasuf, aged 44, of Manchester, and Mohammed Benhammedi, aged 39, from the Midlands.

The US Treasury said Abd AlRahman Al Faqih was convicted in absentia in Morocco for involvement in suicide bombings in Casablanca in 2003 which killed more than 40 people.

It was also alleged he was a senior leader of the LIFG and involved in providing false passports and money to members worldwide.

Abd'rabbah was described by the US as an associate of alFaqih and one of three trustees of Sanabel while Khaled was said to be a director of the charity.

T he fifth man was Midlands-based Mohammed Benhammedi, aged 39, alleged to be a "key financier" of the LIFG and a member of its "economic committee", providing funds through three companies.

They were named as Sara Properties Limited and Ozlam Properties Limited, both based in Liverpool, and Meadowbrook Investments Limited, of Bristol.

The organisation they are alleged to support, the LIFG, is described by the US Treasury as an "al Qaida affiliate known for engaging in terrorist activity in Libya and cooperating with al Qaida worldwide".

The LIFG is said to have attempted to assassinate Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and replace him with a hardline Islamic regime.

Patrick O'Brien, the US Treasury's Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crime, said: "The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group threatens global safety and stability through the use of violence and its ideological alliance with al Qaida and other brutal terrorist organisations.

"Through a sophisticated charitable front operation and other companies, the individuals designated today have financially supported LIFG's activities."

Sanabel, which has addresses in Birmingham, Manchester, Middlesbrough and London, says on its web-site that its aim is "to relieve the suffering of Muslims around the world".

But the US Treasury said: "While SRA characterises itself to the public as a charitable organisation, its first priority is providing support to the LIFG's jihadist activities.

"LIFG's fundraising charity is SRA, which is controlled by leaders of the LIFG. Directors of SRA use the charity as a vehicle to transfer money and documents for terrorist activities overseas."

It said the former head of Sanabel in Kabul was believed to have been arrested with three other LIFG members and al Qaida chief Abu Zubaydah.

Last night Nasuf,, a volunteer for Sanabel, denied allegations that he was a member of the LIFG and that there was any link between the two organisations.

He said: "It is wrong what they said. I am just a volunteer worker. There is no relationship, nothing at all. I have done nothing. Sanabel is nothing to do with the other group. I am angry, it is not right.