Treasury sanctions Iraq-based insurgent group

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Tuesday imposed sanctions on an Iraq-based insurgent group that it said threatened the peace and stabilization efforts in Iraq.

Treasury said it froze any assets Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi, or JRTN, may have in the United States and prohibited banks and consumers from doing business with them.

"Today's designation is an important step in protecting Coalition troops, Iraqi Security Forces and innocent Iraqis from insurgent groups like JRTN that use violence to undermine Iraq's progress toward a more democratic and prosperous future," said Stuart Levey, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

Treasury cited a series of attacks since April as a reason for sanctioning the group. It said JRTN launched a number of attacks on coalition forces and the group intended to overthrow the government and reinstate Baath Party rule.

(Reporting by Nancy Waitz)