The leader of the Islamic State in Iraq ordered a renewed bombing campaign against Iraqi security forces in a recording posted on an Islamist Web site on Tuesday. "This campaign should be based on explosives and its target should be the apostates ... wearing uniforms and all those who fight alongside the occupiers," Abu Omar al-Baghdadi said in the tape, cited by Reuters.
"Every soldier is to detonate at least three bombs (from now) until the end of the campaign," he said. The campaign would continue until an Islamic date corresponding to the last days of January, he added. "O God's ally seek martyrdom operations as they are the most harmful to the enemies of God," said Baghdadi.
Meanwhile, American troops shot four Iraqi civilians, killing one, during operations against al Qaeda members, the U.S. military said on Tuesday. American forces had detained a suspected al Qaeda fighter in Tarmiya, 30 km north of Baghdad, on Monday when they were approached by a car.
U.S. soldiers fired on the car, hitting the four people inside. One of the passengers died while being taken to a military hospital for treatment. "We regret when Iraqis are hurt or killed while coalition forces work diligently to rid this country of terrorist networks that threaten the security of Iraq and our forces," U.S. military spokesman Major Anton Alston said in a statement, cited by Reuters.
