World Tribune.com

Al Qaida warns Austria, Germany on Afghan deployment

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, March 12, 2007

LONDON — Al Qaida has issued threats against Austria and Germany on troop deployments in Afghanistan.

Al Qaida has posted a statement on the Internet that warned Austria and Germany to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan. The video statement on Sunday said the two Western European countries would become targets of Islamic insurgents.

"Germany's participation in the U.S. war on Islam and Muslims will lead only to endangering Germany itself," the statement said.

Al Qaida and Taliban plan an offensive against the NATO force in Afghanistan over the next few weeks, U.S. officials said. They said the campaign would seek to increase casualties and pressure Western partners of Washington to withdraw their military contingents from Afghanistan.

The statement by the so-called Voice of the Caliphate cited Germany's deployment of 2,750 troops to fight Al Qaida and Taliban in Afghanistan. The video said Germany's command of NATO forces in Afghanistan was designed to help the U.S. war against Al Qaida.

"In standing by the United States, you have provoked those whom you call terrorists to target you," a masked announcer said.

[On Monday, a suicide bomber attacked an Internet cafe in the Moroccan city of Casablanca. Officials said the bomber detonated his concealed explosive belt after he was stopped by cafe owners from searching Al Qaida-aligned websites. At least one person, the bomber, was killed.]

The video was issued on the third anniversary of the Al Qaida bombings of commuter trains in Madrid. In 2004, at least 191 people were killed in a series of strikes in the Spanish capital.

Western intelligence agencies believe that Al Qaida has a huge support network in EU states, particularly France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The network was said to include a growing number of Christian converts to Islam.

The statement also threatened Austria with Al Qaida strikes. The warning against Austria, another participant in the Western coalition in Afghanistan, was similar to that used against Germany.

"Austria was and still is one of the safest countries in the world," the statement said. "But if Austria joins the list of countries targeted by the holy warriors, the situation will change."

Western intelligence analysts said Al Qaida and Taliban have increased their strength in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the last year. They said Al Qaida plans to use these two countries to stage attacks against the West in 2007.

In another video, Al Qaida's No. 2 Ayman Zawahri again criticized the ruling Palestinian movement Hamas for agreeing to a Saudi-arranged ceasefire with Fatah. Zawahiri said Hamas has capitulated to Israel and the United States.

"The leadership of Hamas surrendered to the Jews most of Palestine," Zawahiri said. "They sold all that so they are allowed to keep a third of the government and what a government -- a laughable government."


Copyright © 2007 East West Services, Inc.

Print Article Print this Article Email this article Email Article Subscribe to this Feature Headline Alerts Subscribe to this Feature RSS/XML


Google
Search Worldwide Web Search WorldTribune.com