STORM2K

Statement Threatens Attacks Vs. Italy

45 minutes ago

By SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt - A statement purportedly written by an al-Qaida-linked group threatened to launch attacks on Italian soil if Premier Silvio Berlusconi remains in office.



The statement, signed by the Brigades of Abu Hafs al-Masri and posted Friday on an Internet site known for carrying extremist Islamic content, follows the expiration of a three-month offer of a terrorism truce purportedly made by Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) to European states, including Italy.


"Either you get rid of the inefficient Berlusconi, or we will really burn Italy," the undated statement said, adding, "Berlusconi is dragging you into more blood plus absolute slavery to America."


There was no way to verify the authenticity of the statement.


The Italian government didn't immediately respond to the new threat. Berlusconi, a staunch supporter of President Bush (news - web sites), said recently that the Italian contingent would stay in Iraq (news - web sites) until democracy takes hold.


The premier, however, has faced strong opposition for his pro-U.S. stance, and many here have called for a troops' withdrawal.


The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigade is a shadowy group that takes its name from a top al-Qaida lieutenant who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan (news - web sites) in 2001. It has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on Western targets, including the March 11 train bombings in Madrid. Counterterrorism experts question whether the group has any agents capable of launching attacks and say some of its claims are obviously false or exaggerated.


The latest statement attributed to the group urges Italians to get rid of their premier or "the next message will be on your land not on the Internet," threatening to use "unconventional weapons" in a strike similar to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.


"We are in Italy, and not one of you is safe so long as you refuse our sheik's (bin Laden's) offer (for a truce)," said the statement, which appeared in Italian and Arabic.


"We will turn his promise into reality. A bloodbath similar to Sept. 11 awaits you," the statement said. "We are able to aim at qualitative targets with unconventional weapons that will cause a grand catastrophe."


Italy sent 3,000 troops to Iraq after the ouster of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to help rebuild the country. The contingent is based in the southern city of Nasiriyah.


In November, a truck bombing at an Italian barracks in southern Iraq killed 19 Italians, the country's worst military loss since World War II. In May, an Italian soldier died of wounds suffered in a battle with militants believed loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... ida_threat

Also, five French citizens have been kidnapped in Gaza http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,125997,00.html and the Taliban attacked a convoy of US troops in Afghanistan http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,125989,00.html

Great, so there is now a threat of revolt in Italy...either their is a Revolt and the leader is overthrown or the country is attacked...which is worse? An attack on civillians or a government change and a country gone haywire.

I've been seeing a lot of posts titled "We will burn Rome" and things of that nature. There was talk about the European truce ending on the 15th all week.

Another message to Italy:

Fair Use Policy Applies

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...ly_troops_qaeda

Yahoo! News Sat, Jul 17, 2004
World - AFP
Al-Qaeda demands Italy withdraw troops from Iraq: website
1 hour, 12 minutes ago
DUBAI, (AFP) - A statement posted on an Islamist website purported to be from the Al-Qaeda terror network demands Italy withdraw its troops from Iraq, under threat of a series of car bomb attacks.

"O Italian people, your government has participated in the war on Iraq and sent troops and arsenal to our country. We urge you for the last time to demand that it withdraw peacefully from Iraq," said the statement.

Dated July 17, it was signed "Khalid Ibn al-Walid Brigade, Al-Qaeda". Its authenticity could not be verified.

"If your government does not obey, the solution lies in successive car bomb" attacks, the statement said.

A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq - Khalid Ibn al-Walid Brigade, is holding a Filipino hostage and has threatened to behead him if Manila does not push forward by a month the withdrawal of its contingent in Iraq.

It was not immediately clear if the same group issued Saturday's statement, posted on the website http://www.ansarnet.ws/vb.

"We have sent messages in the past but the Italian government did not understand because it only understands the language of blood and jihad (holy war)," said the statement.

The group also sent "a second message to the Italian people and government" telling them to "bear the consequences" of rejecting a peace offer from Osama bin Laden.

An audiotaped statement issued April 15 by the terror chief gave European governments until July 15 to pull their troops out of Muslim countries.

The ultimatum was later authenticated by the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Italy still maintains troops in Iraq, where it has been a staunch supporter of the US-led invasion.

"We came to you with our truce offer but your government did not respond favourably. Accept therefore the results of your government's decisions. We swear that the cars of death will not stop," the group warned.

"We recommend that you import body bags and make coffins to fill with the dead," it added.

The same website carried a statement on Friday attributed to Al-Qaeda and threatening Italy with a 9/11-style bloodbath if it kept Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in power.

"Either you junk the incompetent Berlusconi or we will really burn Italy," warned Friday's statement. It was signed in the name of the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which also claimed responsibility for the March 11 attacks in Madrid and the November 2003 bombings in Istanbul.