Topic: Iraq Qaeda chief offers amnesty to 'betraying' tribesmen

Media: AFP
Byline: N/A
Date: 28 September 2006

DUBAI, Sept 28, 2006 (AFP) - Al-Qaeda's chief in Iraq offered amnesty to
Sunni Arab tribal leaders who have collaborated with the government if they
revert to supporting the insurgency, an Internet-posted audioclip said
Thursday.

The amnesty would last until the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan,
said the voice purporting to belong to Abu Hamza al-Muhajer.

"I tell those (tribal sheikhs) who stood by the betrayers and sold out their
religion and honour in this blessed month: We today offer you a full
amnesty," he said.

This amnesty is however "contingent to your declaration of a full repentance
... and cooperation with your brothers the mujahedeen (holy warriors) to
drive the occupier out" of Iraq, he said in the tape whose authenticity
could not be verified.

Early in September, the terror network chief and car bomb expert also known
as Abu Ayyub al-Masri urged each Iraqi Sunni to kill one of the 141,000 US
soldiers in Iraq by the start of Ramadan.

Muhajer took over as Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq after a US air strike killed
his predecessor Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on June 7.