Iraq's ambassador to Australia says he saw followers of Iraq's Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi trying to enlist supporters in Sydney during Iraqi elections early last year. Ghanim Al-Shibli says Australian authorities are aware of the group and are doing what they can to stop it. He says he is satisfied with the handling of an investigation into the claims. "Those people are recruiting young people, and soliciting money and sending those people to Iraq, and it's not a secret," he said. "We have them on a daily basis blowing up Iraqi people." Mr Al Shibli says the problem is not confined to Australia and says as Iraq continues to move toward democracy, support for Zarqawi will deteriorate. "He is a murderer, he has no relation to the Sunnis, or any other sect," he said.
Keysar Trad from the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia says allegations of fundraising in Australia to support the insurgency were raised 12 months ago and were found to have no substance. Mr Trad says anyone in Australia who knows of active support for Iraq's Al Qaeda leader should immediately take such information to police. "If you speak to any Muslim, they will tell you that they disown Zarqawi, that Zarqawi is really a dirty word to most Muslims in Australia," he said. "It's strange that there would be an allegation like this floating around. It's really incredible that there is such an allegation."
Mr Trad says further allegations on fundraising will cause unnecessary alarm. "These are allegations that came up as a result of a dispute between protesters and people who were voting in last year's election for the Iraqi parliament," he said. "I move very broadly and extensively within the community and to this point in time I haven't seen or heard of anyone raising funds for the insurgency."