Sydney, Apr 11: Six more radical Islamic groups, including Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, have been outlawed under Australia's tough counter-terrorism laws, the government announced today. Attorney-General Daryl Williams said the listing of the terrorist groups would deter Australians from becoming involved with them either as members, as financial backers or in a training role.

Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were blamed for a number of suicide attacks and massacres in Jammu and Kashmir and also for the kidnapping and brutal murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan early last year. The other four organisations banned today are Lebanon-based Asbat al-Ansar, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Islamic Army of Aden and the Islamic movement of Uzbekistan.

Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network and its Asian regional affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) have already been banned by Australia. The banning order makes it illegal for Australians to belong to, direct, recruit for, train with or provide training for, and to receive funds from or make funds available to the six groups in Australia or overseas.

Anyone convicted of breaching the ban risks a maximum penalty of 25 years jail.

Williams said the groups were banned in Australia following their listing as terrorist organisations by the United Nations Security Council and recommendations by the attorney-general's department. Bureau Report