Al-Arab Blog - مدونة العرب

DUBAI (Reuters) - A letter purportedly from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network denied any role in Tuesday's anti-Shi'ite explosions in Iraq and blamed the United States for the attacks that killed 185 people.

The letter was signed by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades and was sent to the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper. It was obtained by Reuters Wednesday.


Purported Al Qaeda letter denies role in Iraq blasts
A letter purporting to come from Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network denied any role in Tuesday's anti-Shiite Muslim explosions in Iraq and blamed the attacks on the United States.

The letter, signed by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades with "Al Qaeda" in parenthesis, was sent to the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper.

It was obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

"US troops have committed a massacre against the innocent Shiite people to set sectarianism ablaze among Iraq's Muslims," the letter said.

"We, and with God as our witness, say we are innocent of this act and of anything that will drive the Shiites away. Our mujahideen (holy warriors) love God and his prophet and will not do anything that will harm the Iraqi people."

Suicide bombers, mortars and concealed explosives killed at least 170 people and wounded more than 435 in Baghdad and Kerbala during the holy Shi'ite mourning period of Ashura.

The attacks on the mass gatherings made Tuesday the bloodiest day since US troops toppled Saddam Hussein in April.

Iraq's US-appointed Governing Council blamed the blasts on Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian who Washington says works for Al Qaeda and whom it accuses of trying to fuel chaos in Iraq.

--Reuters