Iraq: Al-Zarqawi Announces Election Eve Offensive

Al-Qaeda's point man in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has made new threats of terrorist attacks, timed to coincide with general elections on Thursday. The threats are in contrast with the appeal of another insurgent group, the Islamic Army in Iraq, for no attacks on polling stations as Iraqis vote.

"The lions of monotheism of the organisation of al-Qaeda have launched a new blessed military offensive against the seats of apostates and infidels to force into crisis the blasphemous democratic marriage" reads a statement posted on Islamist websites.

The communique says that al-Zarqawi's followers are ready for attacks in areas of Baghdad, in the restive western province of al-Anbar, nearby Salahuddin, in Mosul and Diyala. The group said it would be publishing updates giving further details of the purported military offensive.

The threats by al-Qaeda in Iraq are in contrast with what appears to be some sort of electoral truce declared by another insurgent group, the Islamic Army in Iraq. On Monday it posted a website messages to its own militants ordering them not to strike polling stations, so as to avoid civilian bloodshed.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.239870826&par=0

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