Zarqawi justifies Muslim deaths

2005-05-18 16:34

Dubai - Anti-US attacks in Iraq which also kill Muslim civilians, do not violate Islamic law, al-Qaeda's feared frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said in a purported tape posted on the internet on Wednesday.

The recording emerged as the US military said that leaders close to Zarqawi had ordered a recent car bombing campaign that has killed hundreds in Iraq.

"Our fighters only take the initiative of carrying out such operations in line with the principles of the sharia," said the voice attributed to the fugitive leader who has a $25m price on his head.

"It is legitimate to shoot all infidels with all the kinds of arms that we have," said the voice, similar to those in earlier recordings attributed to Zarqawi.

"Killing Muslims who are serving as human shields (for the Americans) is allowed by the sharia," he said, backing his arguments with statements from several Muslim clergymen.

In the audiotape, Zarqawi mentioned the death of Pope John Paul II - which indicated that the message was recorded after April 2.

Many have been criticising the fact that guerrilla attacks in Iraq have been inflicting more victims among Iraqi civilians than US-led forces.

Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born Islamist extremist, is Iraq's most wanted man, but has so far evaded capture despite US-led raids on his suspected hideouts.

In the last recording attributed to Zarqawi, the fugitive insurgent called on April 29 on Muslims to step up attacks on US forces.

Earlier this month, the US and British media reported that Zarqawi had recently been wounded and treated briefly at a hospital in Iraq.

The report has not been confirmed.

- AFP