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Al-Zarqawi group claims hit

2004-12-29 08:37

Baghdad - The group of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an assassination attempt against the leader of Iraq's largest Shiite Muslim party that killed and wounded dozens of people.

In a statement posted on an internet website, al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda group in Iraq said one of its members carried out the suicide attack near Abdel Aziz al-Hakim's office on Monday that killed 15 people and wounded more than 50.

Al-Hakim, who was not in the office, but in his house, was not hurt.

The assassination attempt came a month before Iraq's general elections, in which al-Hakim is running.

Most Sunni Muslims are boycotting it by saying it should not be held under US occupation and amid deteriorating security.

High-profile attacks in Iraq

Shiites, who make up 60% of Iraq's 26 million, want to show their strength through elections after living under Sunni domination for decades.

The statement said: "On Monday, one of the lions of the martyrdom seekers brigades, belonging to the military wing of al-Qaeda in Iraq launched an attack in order to wipe out one of the symbols of treason for the Americans."

It added: "We tell you Hakim that if one arrow missed you we have many more arrows."

US officials have offered a reward of $25m for the capture of al-Zarqawi.

He is believed to be behind numerous high-profile attacks in Iraq, including last year's bombing of the UN headquarters.

This also includes the beheading of several foreign hostages and the August 2003 killing of al-Hakim's elder brother, Mohammed Baqir, in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.

- AP

inside news24

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