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Al-Qaida Leader: 'Thirsty for Your Rotting Heads'
Al-Qaida's new leader in Iraq said the country's Sunni politicians were treacherous and warned of more attacks against U.S.-led forces there, according to an Internet audio tape posted on Thursday.
"The fire has not and will not be put out and our swords, which have been coloured with your blood are thirsty for more of your rotting heads," said the speaker, identified in the recording as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir.
"You (Sunni politicians) have lied to yourself and betrayed your nation ... You claimed you will enter the political process to ease the hardship of the Sunnis, but you were their hardship," he said.
Muhajir, who became the group's leader after his predecessor Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killed in June, called on Muslims to unite and asked each insurgent to kill one American in the next 15 days, saying victory was near. "I urge you not to throw down your weapon or give yourself or the enemy a rest until each one of you kills at least one American in a period not exceeding 15 days, with a sniper bullet or . . . explosive device or suicide car bomb, whatever the battle requires.
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"We have moved close to the goal and to realising our hope and I see victory ... unify your ranks and purify your hearts and support your mujahideen brothers God loves those who fight for him.
"Place your hands in our hands ... our enemy has unified his ranks, now is the time to unite," said the speaker.
Muhajir, also believed to use the name Abu Ayyub al-Masri, told Shi'ite Muslims to 'repent' or face the swords of the mujahideen holy fighters.
U.S. officials had no immediate comment on the tape. They said there was no reason to doubt its authenticity but cautioned that official verification could pose an extra challenge for intelligence analysts because of a dearth of earlier recordings by Muhajir. Al-Qaida makes up about five percent of Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgency but its suicide bombers have caused some of the worst violence, often killing more than 100 people in a single attack.
Iraq's south is dominated by Shi'ites who took power in the country after the 2003 U.S.-led war, while central and northern cities are chiefly Sunni areas, where insurgents have been active against the Shi'ite-led government and U.S.-led forces.
(c) Reuters 2006. All rights reserved.
Editor's note:
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Inside Cover Stories
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