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| Europe |
| Group Leader Implies Link to Iraq Attack |
| 2004-01-09 |
| The founder of Islamic militant group Ansar al-Islam made comments on Arabic-language television that suggest the group was behind a March 2003 suicide bombing in Iraq that killed four people, including an Australian journalist, a transcript shows. The Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, which reported the comments Friday, said they seemed to contradict Mullah Krekar’s previous statements that the group was not involved in any attacks in northern Iraq. He also sez he’s retired, but we don’t believe that either. Krekar was arrested at his home in Oslo a week ago on suspicion he plotted the attempted murders of political rivals in northern Iraq between 2000 and 2001 or encouraged terrorism by his group’s members. A court ordered his release for lack of evidence, but he remains in jail pending a police appeal. Good. According to transcript of the program aired on the Al-Jazeera TV network Dec. 2, Krekar said the suicide attack at a checkpoint was in response to U.S. led bombings of his group in northern Iraq. "When the Americans attacked us in our areas ... the next day, one of our brothers-martyrs ... booby-trapped himself and his car, and attacked the U.S. position," said Krekar, according to an Arabic language transcript posted on Al-Jazeera’s Web site. "Damm infidels, who knew they could understand the holy Arabic language?" Krekar does not specifically refer to Ansar al-Islam in the comments. Doesn’t have to, the comment speaks for itself. Krekar’s Norwegian attorney, Brynjar Meling, said he hadn’t discussed the transcript with his client but wanted to get a copy of it first. I’ll bet, he’s in damage control mode. Krekar, born Najm al-Din Faraj Ahmad, has repeatedly said he no longer has a formal role in Ansar al-Islam, and has denied allegations of terrorism and links to the al-Qaida network. "Lies, all lies!" This week, Norway’s Oekokrim, the elite economic crime police, submitted additional secret evidence to the Borgarting appeals court in Oslo, seeking an order to hold Krekar in jail for four weeks. |
| Posted by:Steve |