Qaeda claims kidnap of Algerian envoy in Iraq
Michael Georgy, Reuters, Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:04 AM ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility on Saturday for the kidnap of the chief of the Algerian mission in Baghdad, stepping up pressure on the new government struggling to quell relentless guerrilla violence.
"Algeria rushed to obey the crusaders by sending its envoy to Iraq ... did you not learn from the fate of the ambassador of the Egyptian tyrant?" asked the statement on an Islamist Web site frequently used by the group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al Qaeda's leader in Iraq.
Algerian mission chief Ali Belaroussi, 62, and attache Azzedine Belkadi, 47, were snatched by gunmen in Baghdad on Thursday near the north African country's mission.
"A foreign ministry crisis cell is active and we are closely following the situation. But right now we have no comment (on al Qaeda's statement)," Algeria's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdelhamid Chebchoub said.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility on Saturday for the kidnap of the chief of the Algerian mission in Baghdad, stepping up pressure on the new government struggling to quell relentless guerrilla violence.
"Algeria rushed to obey the crusaders by sending its envoy to Iraq ... did you not learn from the fate of the ambassador of the Egyptian tyrant?" asked the statement on an Islamist Web site frequently used by the group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al Qaeda's leader in Iraq.
Algerian mission chief Ali Belaroussi, 62, and attache Azzedine Belkadi, 47, were snatched by gunmen in Baghdad on Thursday near the north African country's mission.
"A foreign ministry crisis cell is active and we are closely following the situation. But right now we have no comment (on al Qaeda's statement)," Algeria's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdelhamid Chebchoub said.
posted by Gordon Stables | 3:01 PM
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