Iraq: Six Groups Break With Al-Qaeda's Al-Zarqawi

Baghdad, 23 Jan. (AKI):

Six armed groups fighting against Iraq's transitional government and its US-led coaliton force backers have distanced themselves from Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda linked group. The groups in a statement posted on the Internet said they had severed all links with the Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi, who is suspected of masterminding some of the bloodiest attacks in Iraq.

The groups including the Islamic Army, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, the Army of the Mujahadeen and the al-Ramadi Revolutionary Brigades, announced the creation of a new umbrella group, the "Cells of the People" which they say will concentrate its operations in the al-Anbar province. The statement condemned all "operations targeting innocent civilians."

Posted on 24 January 2006 @ 15:43