Al Qaida in Iraq threatens to blow up White House
Agencies
Baghdad: A purported audio recording by the leader of Iraq's Al Qaida wing gloated over the resignation of US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and threatened to blow up the White House.
Abu Hamza Al Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub Al Masri, said in the recording posted on the Internet on Friday that the group had 12,000 armed fighters and 10,000 others waiting to be equipped to fight US troops in Iraq.
"I tell the lame duck (US administration) do not rush to escape as did your defence minister...stay on the battle ground," he said.
He said his group would not rest until it had blown up the presidential mansion in Washington.
"I swear by God we shall not rest from jihad until we...blow up the filthiest house known as the White House," the voice on the recording said. The authenticity of the message could not be independently confirmed.
"The location chosen by your mujahedeen brethren to set up their state... is but a stepping stone for the leap," Muhajir said, referring to the "Islamic state of Iraq" proclaimed last month.
An alliance of Sunni insurgents headed by the Iraq branch of Al Qaida announced the creation of an independent Islamic emirate in Iraq in a video posted on the Internet on October 15, after parliament in Baghdad approved a federal constitution for the war-ravaged country.
In Friday's message, Muhajir said: "I tell the commander of the faithful, the honorable Sheikh Abu Omar Al Baghdadi: I have put 12,000 Al Qaida fighters at the disposal of the Islamic state of Iraq," pledging allegiance to the state's emir.
The Al Qaida chief appealed to major Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups, notably the Army of Ansar Al Sunna, the Islamic Army of Iraq and the Mujahedeen's Army, to endorse the self-styled state and pledge allegiance to its emir.
Muhajir slammed US President George W. Bush, gloated over his Republican party's defeat in mid-term elections widely attributed to US involvement in Iraq, and said US forces occupying the country were preparing to cut and run.
"The enemy is now teetering under the blows of the mujahedeen... and preparing to pack up and flee," he said.
"I thank the most stupid and worst president America - the country of slaves and drugs - has ever had for giving us this great historic opportunity," he said in the recording.
"The American people have taken the first step on the right path in order to get out of their impasse and have started to realise the treachery of their president and his subordination to Israel, voting for a measure of reason in the latest elections," Muhajir said.
"I tell (Bush): don't hurry to flee like your defense minister (Donald Rumsfeld, who resigned on Wednesday). We have still not quenched our thirst for your blood."
Muhajir also charged that Bush's policies had enabled Shiite Iran to spread its influence in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.
White House spokesman Tony Snow declined to comment on the recording
Agencies
Baghdad: A purported audio recording by the leader of Iraq's Al Qaida wing gloated over the resignation of US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and threatened to blow up the White House.
Abu Hamza Al Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub Al Masri, said in the recording posted on the Internet on Friday that the group had 12,000 armed fighters and 10,000 others waiting to be equipped to fight US troops in Iraq.
"I tell the lame duck (US administration) do not rush to escape as did your defence minister...stay on the battle ground," he said.
He said his group would not rest until it had blown up the presidential mansion in Washington.
"I swear by God we shall not rest from jihad until we...blow up the filthiest house known as the White House," the voice on the recording said. The authenticity of the message could not be independently confirmed.
"The location chosen by your mujahedeen brethren to set up their state... is but a stepping stone for the leap," Muhajir said, referring to the "Islamic state of Iraq" proclaimed last month.
An alliance of Sunni insurgents headed by the Iraq branch of Al Qaida announced the creation of an independent Islamic emirate in Iraq in a video posted on the Internet on October 15, after parliament in Baghdad approved a federal constitution for the war-ravaged country.
In Friday's message, Muhajir said: "I tell the commander of the faithful, the honorable Sheikh Abu Omar Al Baghdadi: I have put 12,000 Al Qaida fighters at the disposal of the Islamic state of Iraq," pledging allegiance to the state's emir.
The Al Qaida chief appealed to major Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups, notably the Army of Ansar Al Sunna, the Islamic Army of Iraq and the Mujahedeen's Army, to endorse the self-styled state and pledge allegiance to its emir.
Muhajir slammed US President George W. Bush, gloated over his Republican party's defeat in mid-term elections widely attributed to US involvement in Iraq, and said US forces occupying the country were preparing to cut and run.
"The enemy is now teetering under the blows of the mujahedeen... and preparing to pack up and flee," he said.
"I thank the most stupid and worst president America - the country of slaves and drugs - has ever had for giving us this great historic opportunity," he said in the recording.
"The American people have taken the first step on the right path in order to get out of their impasse and have started to realise the treachery of their president and his subordination to Israel, voting for a measure of reason in the latest elections," Muhajir said.
"I tell (Bush): don't hurry to flee like your defense minister (Donald Rumsfeld, who resigned on Wednesday). We have still not quenched our thirst for your blood."
Muhajir also charged that Bush's policies had enabled Shiite Iran to spread its influence in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.
White House spokesman Tony Snow declined to comment on the recording
