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Al-Qaeda's 'mild' message to Obama
Al-Qaeda in Iraq have reacted to the US presidential election by issuing a statement on Friday directed at President-elect Barack Obama and his incoming administration.The 22-minute audiotape was posted on several jihadist internet websites and includes an audio message from Abu Umar al-Baghdadi, the pseudonym adopted by the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq. The US military said on Friday that al-Baghdadi was "an actor who provided a voice for al-Qaeda's propaganda". The statement issued in his name calls on the incoming US administration and allied Western leaders to embrace Islam, withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and release Muslim prisoners from there and from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Compared to previous statements issued by the group this one is relatively mild, imploring America to return to what it calls "impartiality" and even offering not to disrupt Western oil supplies if its conditions are met. "We promise that we will not stop the trading of oil or other commodities with you, provided that justice is achieved," the audio message said. ... Posted by: ed 2008-11-09 |
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