TA-ATTACKS: Al Qaeda Group Claims Responsibility for Salim Killing in Iraq

An Al Qaeda group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for the death of Ezzedine Salim, the Iraq Governing Council president killed yesterday in a car bombing in Baghdad.

Sky.com

Jama'at al-Tawhid and Jihad, headed by the apparently elusive Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, stated on an Islamic website just hours ago that their operative Abu Salama al-Hegazy, a national of Saudi Arabia, carried out the suicide bombing.

The statement said: "Another lion from the Jama'a al-Tawhid and Jihad has removed the rotten head of those who betray God and sell their religion to the Americans and their allies. This operation announces to Muslims everywhere that the mujahideen, with their people in Iraq, are continuing and determined to lift the humiliation from our nation."

There has been no official determination of the statement's authenticity.

To further compound the situation, another - hitherto unknown - group posted an internet claim of responsibility. The "Arab Resistance Movement/al-Rashid Brigades" issued a statement on an Iraqi website indicating they had carried out the assassination. There is speculation that this group may be a cover for the Jama'at al-Tawhid and Jihad group.

Seven people, including Salim, died in the blast.

In March 2004, a statement from a group calling itself "Leadership of the Allahu Akbar Mujahedeen" claimed al-Zarqawi was killed in Iraq. US officials have denied the claim.

Related Stories:
Reuters
Who is Abu Zarqawi?
HiPakistan.com

Related ATSNN/TA Stories:
Iraq Governing Council President Killed in Car Bombing


[Edited on 19-5-2004 by Banshee]

1)
The man killed was nobody but a "muppet".
Iraqis wants a real government.
There should be democratic elections in Iraq.
President Bush said that he will gives Iraq to iraqis, no?
2)
It is frightening to see that Al Qaeda becomes to be rooted in Iraq. The terrorists og Al Qaeda, foreigners, were once denounced by local people, but are not anymore, and now they seem able to plan actions inside the country. The terrorists find sympathy among the iraq resistance. It is very dangerous.

Isn't Abu Musab al-Zarqawi pretty active for a supposedly dead man these days ? Just wondering.