soldierofallah1
23-12-2006, 12:30 PM
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - The purported leader of an al-Qaida-linked militant group offered U.S. troops a one-month truce for withdrawing from Iraq without being attacked, according to a speech posted on an Islamic Web site Friday.
The leader of Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, also called on former officers in Saddam Hussein's disbanded army to join his militia, promising to provide them with a salary and house so long as they could recite three ``suras,'' or groups of verses, of the Quran.
The ``Islamic State of Iraq'' declared itself in October. It is believed to be an umbrella group for militant organizations, including al-Qaida in Iraq.
Addressing the United States, al-Baghdadi said: ``We order you to withdrew your troops immediately, using troop carriers and aircraft, and taking only your personal weapons. Don't withdraw any heavy weapons. Instead you should hand over those and your military bases to the holy warriors of the Islamic State.''
For one month, he said, ``we will allow your withdrawal to proceed without being attacked by explosives or any other form.''
Al-Baghdadi claimed that Washington had tried to negotiate with his group through the Saudi government.
``The giant has started to fall. It is looking for an escape and seeking to negotiate with all the other groups and parties,'' al-Baghdadi said. He claimed he spurned the offer because ``we are not ones to negotiate with those who killed our children.''
Al-Baghdadi claimed that Washington had tried to negotiate with his group through the Saudi government.
``The giant has started to fall. It is looking for an escape and seeking to negotiate with all the other groups and parties,'' al-Baghdadi said. He claimed he spurned the offer because ``we are not ones to negotiate with those who killed our children.''
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6298567,00.html
The leader of Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, also called on former officers in Saddam Hussein's disbanded army to join his militia, promising to provide them with a salary and house so long as they could recite three ``suras,'' or groups of verses, of the Quran.
The ``Islamic State of Iraq'' declared itself in October. It is believed to be an umbrella group for militant organizations, including al-Qaida in Iraq.
Addressing the United States, al-Baghdadi said: ``We order you to withdrew your troops immediately, using troop carriers and aircraft, and taking only your personal weapons. Don't withdraw any heavy weapons. Instead you should hand over those and your military bases to the holy warriors of the Islamic State.''
For one month, he said, ``we will allow your withdrawal to proceed without being attacked by explosives or any other form.''
Al-Baghdadi claimed that Washington had tried to negotiate with his group through the Saudi government.
``The giant has started to fall. It is looking for an escape and seeking to negotiate with all the other groups and parties,'' al-Baghdadi said. He claimed he spurned the offer because ``we are not ones to negotiate with those who killed our children.''
Al-Baghdadi claimed that Washington had tried to negotiate with his group through the Saudi government.
``The giant has started to fall. It is looking for an escape and seeking to negotiate with all the other groups and parties,'' al-Baghdadi said. He claimed he spurned the offer because ``we are not ones to negotiate with those who killed our children.''
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6298567,00.html