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| 'Iraq al-Qaeda' makes kidnap call | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, has called for kidnapping of Westerners, according to a recording issued on the internet. | The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, has called for kidnapping of Westerners, according to a recording issued on the internet. |
| "I call on every holy fighter in Iraq to strive to capture some dogs of the Christians so that we can liberate our imprisoned sheikh," the tape says. | "I call on every holy fighter in Iraq to strive to capture some dogs of the Christians so that we can liberate our imprisoned sheikh," the tape says. |
| It is a reference to Egyptian cleric Omar Abdul Rahman, held in the US over the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. | It is a reference to Egyptian cleric Omar Abdul Rahman, held in the US over the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. |
| Issued on Islamist websites, the tape's authenticity could not be verified. | Issued on Islamist websites, the tape's authenticity could not be verified. |
| More than 4,000 emigres and many more of the supporters of righteousness [Iraqi insurgents] have given their blood to Iraq 'Muhajir' recording It appears to have been issued to mark the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, normally a time for prayer and fasting. | More than 4,000 emigres and many more of the supporters of righteousness [Iraqi insurgents] have given their blood to Iraq 'Muhajir' recording It appears to have been issued to mark the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, normally a time for prayer and fasting. |
| "I congratulate the Muslim nation on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of jihad (holy war). | "I congratulate the Muslim nation on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of jihad (holy war). |
| "I ask God to make it a month for honour and victory for Muslims," the voice says. | "I ask God to make it a month for honour and victory for Muslims," the voice says. |
| Dirty bombs | Dirty bombs |
| The recording discloses for the first time the number of non-Iraqi insurgents said to have been killed fighting US-led forces in Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. | The recording discloses for the first time the number of non-Iraqi insurgents said to have been killed fighting US-led forces in Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. |
| "More than 4,000 emigres and many more of the supporters of righteousness [Iraqi insurgents] have given their blood to Iraq," the speaker says. | "More than 4,000 emigres and many more of the supporters of righteousness [Iraqi insurgents] have given their blood to Iraq," the speaker says. |
| It also calls for explosives experts and nuclear scientists to help launch non-conventional attacks on US bases, using biological or radialogical weapons, so-called "dirty bombs". | It also calls for explosives experts and nuclear scientists to help launch non-conventional attacks on US bases, using biological or radialogical weapons, so-called "dirty bombs". |
| The recording also offers an amnesty to those who had collaborated with US-led forces or fled the country, if they repented before the end of Ramadan. | The recording also offers an amnesty to those who had collaborated with US-led forces or fled the country, if they repented before the end of Ramadan. |
| Beginning in the spring of 2004, the group under the leadership of the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi staged a string of high-profile kidnappings. | Beginning in the spring of 2004, the group under the leadership of the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi staged a string of high-profile kidnappings. |
| Some of the foreign hostages were beheaded, with the images posted on the internet in video footage attributed to Zarqawi's group. | Some of the foreign hostages were beheaded, with the images posted on the internet in video footage attributed to Zarqawi's group. |
| The wave of abductions caused many foreigners to leave Iraq or live under the protection of armed bodyguards in heavily fortified compounds. | The wave of abductions caused many foreigners to leave Iraq or live under the protection of armed bodyguards in heavily fortified compounds. |
| Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, also known as Ayyub al-Masri, was identified by US forces as Zarqawi's successor after they killed Zarqawi in a raid in June 2006. |