WASHINGTON?The Bush administration expanded its effort to sever terrorists from their funding Monday, moving to block assets of an Islamic charity’s branches in Bosnia and Somalia.

Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill said the blocking action was being taken jointly with the government of Saudi Arabia, a fresh sign of growing international cooperation in the financial war on terrorism.

O’Neill said the U.S. government has evidence that some money from the Al Haramain Islamic Foundation’s offices in Bosnia and Somalia had been diverted to support terrorist activities, but he wouldn’t provide further details.

The charity is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and has offices in more than 50 countries.

The foundation uses donations for many activities, including educating people about Islamic doctrine, providing medical aid and food to some countries and financing the building of schools, mosques and other projects.