Iraqis after militant's blood

2004-07-06 20:21

Baghdad - A group of armed, masked Iraqi men threatened on Tuesday to kill Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi if he did not immediately leave the country, accusing him of murdering innocent Iraqis and defiling the Muslim religion.

The threats revealed the deep anger some Iraqis, including insurgent groups, feel toward foreign fighters, whom they consider as illegitimate a presence here as the 160 000 United States and other coalition troops.

In a videotape sent to the al-Arabiya television station, a group calling itself the "Salvation Movement" questioned how al-Zarqawi could use Islam to justify the killing of innocent civilians, the targeting of government officials and the kidnapping and beheading of foreigners.

"He must leave Iraq immediately, he and his followers and everyone who gives shelter to him and his criminal actions," said a man on the video.

The video marked the first time an Iraqi group had made such a public threat against al-Zarqawi.

A promise to kill

The threat came a day after US-led coalition forces, who have been targeting al-Zarqawi, launched an air strike in the restive city of Fallujah on a suspected safe house used by his followers. The attack killed 15 people, witnesses said.

In the video, five men, their faces covered with Arab headscarves, were flanked by rocket propelled grenades, pistols, rifles and an Iraqi flag. The man speaking had a clear Iraqi accent.

"We swear to Allah that we have started preparing... to capture him and his allies or kill them and present them as gift to our people." the man said.

"This is the last warning. If you don't stop, we will do to you what the coalition forces have failed to do."

Claimed responsibility for beheading

Al-Zarqawi, said to be connected to al-Qaeda, is believed to be behind a series of co-ordinated attacks on police and security forces that killed 100 people only days before US forces handed over power to an Iraqi interim government.

His followers have also claimed responsibility for the beheading of American businessman Nicholas Berg and South Korean translator Kim Sun-il.

The attacks have led to fears that religious fanatics and Saddam loyalists may be joining forces to fight the multinational force and the new Iraqi government.

- AP