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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraq's Ansar al-Sunna claims Arbil bombing |
| 2005-05-04 |
| DUBAI, May 4 (Reuters) - Iraqi militant group Army of Ansar al-Sunna said it was behind a suicide bombing which killed at least 46 people at Kurdish party offices in northern Iraq on Wednesday, according to an Internet statement. Addressing leading Kurdish politician Massoud Barzani the group vowed to mount more attacks on Kurds. The group's bloodiest attack was a 2004 twin suicide bombing -- also in Arbil and targeting Kurdish party offices -- which killed 117 people. "Be aware you apostate (Barzani) that we are preparing more for you so wait for it sooner rather than later," said the statement posted on the group's Web site. "As we hail our martyred brother we tell you Jewish Massoud that this attack which shook your throne is in response to our brothers who are being tortured in your prisons and to the infidel peshmerga forces which surrendered themselves to the Crusaders," it added. The statement could not be immediately authenticated. "We launched upon them this heroic lion who broke through all their fortified checkpoints to blow up his car amid this group of infidels. There was a huge explosion which ripped their bodies apart and killed more than 80 infidels," it added. The statement lashed out at Kurds who it said fought alongside U.S. forces against Muslims in Falluja, Mosul, Baghdad and elsewhere. Jamal Abdel Hamid, health minister of the Kurdish regional government, said 46 people were killed and 70 were wounded. But another health ministry official in Arbil put the death toll at around 60, with 150 people wounded. The bloodshed came a day after a new government was sworn in and three months after historic elections that Iraqis hoped would lead to improved security. |
| Posted by:Steve |