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| Friday, 30 July 2004 |
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Qaeda-linked militants declare "bloody war" on Europe CAIRO, Thursday (Xinhua,Reuters) A military group purportedly linked to al-Qaeda threatened to launch a "bloody war" on Europe, and Italy, a close ally of the United States on Iraq, was its prime target. "Today, we have declared a bloody war on you and we will not stop raids against you until you return to the correct path," said a statement posted on an Islamic Web Site by the Muslim military group, Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades. The statement, issued after a three-month truce" offered by al- Qaida leader Osama bin Laden expired earlier this month, urged European countries to withdraw troops from Iraq and quit their alliances with the United States. "After the truce determined by our sheik Osama bin Laden ended, and after you have not returned to the correct path, we declare a war in your faces and in the face of your silent people whose silence proves their support to you," it added. The military group warned it would start a "bloody war" by attacking Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades on Monday threatened to attack Italy if Berlusconi did not withdraw Italian troops from Iraq. Earlier this month, the same group threatened a "bloodbath like September 11" if Berlusconi remained in power. "We will shake the cities of Europe and we will start with you Berlusconi and we will make it bloody until you return to the correct path. Wait for us Berlusconi and your other allies as well, wait for our promise which we have revealed to you and are now revealing to Europe." "Leaders and peoples of Europe withdraw your killer missions from Iraq and follow the way taken by others before you taste the bitterness of blood," said the new statement, the authenticity of which could not be immediately verified. Bin Laden, in an audiotape on April 15, gave European states three months to pull troops out of Afghanistan, Iraq and other Muslim countries or face new attacks like the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people on March 11. |
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