White House not on hit-list

2005-05-08 21:08

Dubai - The group of al-Qaeda's frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has denied that one of its top figures threatened to attack the White House and the Vatican, according to a message posted Sunday on the internet.

"Pro-crusader media have reported that a senior leader of the organisation threatened the Vatican and the White House ... We defy them to cite our leaders accurately.

"They hate the truth," said the statement, whose authenticity could not be confirmed.

According to an audiotape posted on the internet on April 30, Zarqawi's deputy, Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Iraqi, said: "To our emir (leader) Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ... we say: We are ready for your orders. We are determined to fight the infidels.

"If you point at the White House or the Vatican, we would make every effort so that you reach your target," he added in the online tape, whose authenticity could also not be verified.

It was the first time that al-Qaeda, the terror group led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, was reported to single out the Vatican as a possible target.

What Zarqawi's aide said was that "we are with him (Zarqawi), even if he crosses the sea and goes to Washington and Rome", the latest statement explained. The "pro-crusader media" had "distorted" his remarks.

- SAPA