Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
PARIS, Dec 1 (AFP) - Al-Qaeda's branch in Iraq claimed Thursday in Internet
statement that its fighters were in control of the restive city of Ramadi
west of Baghdad.
"Your brothers in the military wing of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Land
of Two Rivers were able to control a big part of the city of Ramadi after
launching a new blessed conquest," said the statement whose authenticity
could not be independently verified.
"Your brothers attacked the Crusaders and chased down the infidels in the
city's streets."
The US military accused insurgents of deliberately playing up the violence
in Ramadi, which they said involved a rocket-propelled grenade being fired
on a US-Iraqi observation post without causing damage or casualties.
But residents said rebels had fired mortars and rockets on the base and had
occupied streets in the center of town for about 45 minutes before
withdrawing.
Arab satellite channels like Al-Jazeera showed images of masked men roaming
the deserted streets of Ramadi, which continues to be a major flashpoint in
war-torn Iraq despite several US-led military operations in the area over
the past year.
statement that its fighters were in control of the restive city of Ramadi
west of Baghdad.
"Your brothers in the military wing of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Land
of Two Rivers were able to control a big part of the city of Ramadi after
launching a new blessed conquest," said the statement whose authenticity
could not be independently verified.
"Your brothers attacked the Crusaders and chased down the infidels in the
city's streets."
The US military accused insurgents of deliberately playing up the violence
in Ramadi, which they said involved a rocket-propelled grenade being fired
on a US-Iraqi observation post without causing damage or casualties.
But residents said rebels had fired mortars and rockets on the base and had
occupied streets in the center of town for about 45 minutes before
withdrawing.
Arab satellite channels like Al-Jazeera showed images of masked men roaming
the deserted streets of Ramadi, which continues to be a major flashpoint in
war-torn Iraq despite several US-led military operations in the area over
the past year.