Al-Qaeda threatens oil facilities

2007-02-15 07:25

Montreal - The Saudi Arabian arm of al-Qaeda has called for attacks on oil and natural gas facilities in Canada, Mexico and Venezuela, with the goal of destabilising the US economy, according to a translation published by an American organisation that monitors extremist websites.

Canada's National Post reported on the threat on Wednesday.

The threat was posted in Arabic last week by the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Arabian Peninsula, the group that claimed responsibility for the foiled suicide bombing of Saudi oil installations in Abqaiq last February.

The threat was published in the group's online magazine, called Sawt al-Jihad (Voice of Islam), according to the US-based Search for International Terrorist Entities (Site) website that monitors such groups.

"We should strike petroleum interests in all areas that supply the United States," said the message translated by Site.

The 56-page magazine which contained the threat message is the group's 30th issue, but the first to appear since April 2005.

According to the US government, Canada is the largest exporter of oil to the United States at approximately two million barrels per day. Mexico is second at 1.5 million barrels a day in total exports and Venezuela is fourth at close to one million barrels per day.

Canada and Mexico also have pipelines sending a constant stream of natural gas to the US.

The major oil producing regions of Canada are found in the western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and off the shores the Canadian Maritime provinces in the east.

Sapa-dpa

- SAPA