| The Islamic extremist group Al Qaeda is âinvolved and activeâ in Iraq, where terrorist groups are trying to stir up trouble between ethnic and religious group, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Sunday during a stopover in Ireland at the start of a foreign trip. After warning that terrorist groups were trying to spark factional warfare between Iraqâs ethnic and religious groups, Rumsfeld told reporters: âThere is also no doubt in my mind that several things are happening. âOne is a coincidence of interests between terrorist networks plus former regime members plus some criminals. Second, some among them are clearly attempting to foment strife between various religious and ethnic groups. Hoping that they will advantage themselves and disadvantage coalition forces.â When pressed on exactly who was trying to stir up trouble, he said: âTerrorist networks.â Asked whether he believed that that Al Qaeda was active in Iraq, he replied: âThey are clearly involved and active.â Rumsfeld added that the Iraqi people did not like such interference, and that volunteers were still lining up to join the police and army, despite a series of deadly attacks on those forces. |