A leader of activists in Iraq has purportedly written to Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden saying his fighters are being squeezed by U.S.-led occupation troops, according to a statement posted Monday on Islamic Web sites.
It was not possible to authenticate the statement allegedly from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian whose group claimed responsibility for the videotaped beheading of American Nicholas Berg.
Titled "The text of al-Zarqawi's message to Osama bin Laden about holy war in Iraq," the statement appeared on Web sites that have recently carried claims of responsibility for attacks in Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
"The space of movement is starting to get smaller," it said. "The grip is starting to be tightened on the holy warriors' necks and, with the spread of soldiers and police, the future is becoming frightening."
The statement said the movement in Iraq is racing against time to form battalions that can take control of the country "four months before the formation of the promised Iraqi government, hoping to spoil their plan." It appears to refer to the government that would take office after the elections scheduled for January 2005.
It also said activists are planning to intensify attacks on Iraqi soldiers and police, seen as collaborators with the U.S.-led occupation.
Terming Iraqi forces "the occupier's eye, ear and hand," the statement said, "We are planning on targeting them heavily in the coming stage before they are fully in control."
If the fighters fail to take over Iraq, "we will have to leave for another land to uphold the (Islamic) banner, or until God chooses us as martyrs," the statement said.
Moreover, the message also apparently seeks to reassure bin Laden that Iraqi activists are in league with his al-Qaeda members.
"We are not competing with you. We just want to be the head of the spear, a bridge by which the (Islamic) community can cross to victory," it added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
