An insurgent coalition yesterday announced an "Islamic Cabinet" for Iraqi as it attempted to provide an alternative to the country's | democratically-elected |
In a online video released yesterday, a spokesman - whose face was obscured - denounced Iraq's rulers for the past decades including Saddam Hussein's Baath Party and the present government. He said they had "spread corruption and ruined the country and its people, until God helped the mujahideen (holy warriors) bring torture upon them. He added: "Now the Islamic State emerges as a state for Islam and the mujahideen." He then listed a 10-member "Cabinet," including Abu Hamza al-Muhajer as "war minister."
The US military and Iraqi government have identified him by another pseudonym, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. The Islamic state is led by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who holds the title of "
Rita Katz, director of the US-based SITE Institute which monitors militant postings, said the Cabinet announcement meant to enforce the message that the group was "serious about going forward and establishing the state they've announced as their plan."