Qaeda renews threat against envoys in Iraq - Web
Posted on: Friday, 4 November 2005, 04:31 CST
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's military wing in Iraq renewed its threat to kill foreign envoys in Baghdad on Friday, a day after it said it would kill two Moroccan embassy hostages.
Baghdad's U.S.-backed government has asked other Arab countries to restore full diplomatic relations with Iraq and said it would set up a protected zone for diplomats to live and work in safety.
Al Qaeda has repeatedly said it would treat these envoys as collaborators with "an infidel government."
"And despite our early and public warning to these envoys in Baghdad, and even after we targeted them, they are still here, blinded by betrayal of their religion," said the statement, posted on a Web site used by al Qaeda's Iraq leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
"Therefore, we are renewing our warning to all those diplomatic envoys who insist on staying in Baghdad ... especially those countries that have announced their support for this heretic government.
"And we will spare no effort to track them down and seek our revenge, whoever they are and wherever they are -- like we have done with those before them."
Earlier this year, Zarqawi's group killed two Algerian diplomats working in Baghdad. Al Qaeda also said it had killed an Egyptian diplomat, leading Egypt to reduce its mission in Baghdad to a skeleton staff.
On Thursday Morocco's Foreign Ministry denounced al Qaeda for declaring in an Internet statement that it planned to kill two Moroccan hostages because of their country's support for the Baghdad government.
The hostages are driver Abderrahim Boualam and assistant Abdelkrim El Mouhafidm.
The group said in Friday's statement it saw no difference between the head of a diplomatic mission and junior staff.
"So, they should pack their bags and leave from the midst of crusaders and from this criminal government," the group said.
The statement's authenticity could not be verified, but it was signed by al Qaeda's spokesman in Iraq.
More than 200 foreigners and thousands of Iraqis have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Source: REUTERS
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