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| Europe |
| 'Al-Qaeda' warns Italy will burn |
| 2004-07-17 |
| A STATEMENT posted on an Islamist website and said to be from Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network has threatened Italy with a 9/11-style bloodbath if Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi remains in power. "Either you junk the incompetent Berlusconi or we will really burn Italy," the statement said. "We are in Italy. None of you is safe. As long as you refuse the offer put forward by our sheikh (bin Laden), we are going to make good our threats. A bloodbath like that of September 11 (2001) awaits you." The statement was referring to a July 15 deadline the al-Qaeda leader gave European governments to pull their troops out of Muslim countries. Italy still maintains troops in Iraq, where it has been a staunch supporter of the US-led invasion. The three-month ultimatum was issued in an April 15 audiotape that was later authenticated by the US Central Intelligence Agency. "This message is no mere threat," the latest statement warned. "We are capable of hitting the targets we choose with non-conventional weapons that will spark an enormous catastrophe ... Our next message will be what you see in you country, not an Internet message." The statement was posted at http://www.ansarnet.ws/vb but its authenticity could not be verified today. It was signed in the name of the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which also claimed responsibility for the March 11 attacks in Madrid and the November 2003 bombings in Istanbul. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #8 So do I, tibor. I pray that they have the depth of character to resist this cancer. Oriana Fallacci must be wigging out over the suspense of seeing what will happen to her beloved Italy. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-07-17 6:39:19 PM |
| #7 I hope the Italians remember brave Fabrizio Quattrochi and reject this nonsense. |
| Posted by: tibor 2004-07-17 3:43:39 PM |
| #6 From Spain's pitiful example of obsequiousness they know that their best bet is to remove the leader as opposed to change a strong individuals inclinations. Berlusconi is no coward and AQ knows it... they only hope the Italian population proves to be cowardly. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-07-17 3:03:02 PM |
| #5 Whichever it is-- boldness or desperation-- they sure aren't puting a high premium on subtlety. Hopefully, that'll prove a blunder. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-07-17 3:00:42 PM |
| #4 Isn't it strange that AQ just skipped the part about pulling troops out of Iraq and went right for Berlusconi? They're either getting very bold or very desperate. |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-07-17 2:57:31 PM |
| #3 Unfortunately, Berlusconi's Forza Italia party suffered heavy losses in the June European and local vote. Whether this new AQ threat will help Berlusconi or hurt him further with the Italian voters is hard to say. |
| Posted by: rex 2004-07-17 1:58:19 PM |
| #2 But, but that makes no sense... Moore and Kerry told me that Al Queda wanted Bush to win because Bush was helping them beat us... I don't get it, if they want Bush to win then why are they trying to remove all of the political leaders that are allied with Bush? I don't get it... could Moore and Kerry be lying to me?!? Say it ain't so! |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-07-17 1:40:50 PM |
| #1 Now we'll see if the majority of Italians have courage, or if it's only a few. If Italy gives in to Al-Q telling them who to elect, they might as well start slaughtering pigs, burning vineyards, pouring out wine, burning churches and getting measured for burkas right now. Avoid the rush a few years from now. Oh, yeah - and turn the Vatican into a mosque, which will immediately be declared one of the holiest islamic shrines. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-17 1:36:17 PM |