Al Qaeda chief in North Africa drums up followers
May 9, 2007
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The purported chief of the Al Qaeda branch in North Africa urged his followers to join the "war between infidels and believers," in a videotape broadcast Wednesday on Al Jazeera news channel.
The tape showed testimonies from the three suicide bombers in April 11 attacks in Algiers that killed 30 people and wounded more than 220 others, and also the preparation of the car bombs purportedly used in the bombings.
"It is a crusade against Islam and a decisive war between the infidels and the believers," said Abu Mussab Abdel Wadud in the videotape whose authenticity could not be verified.
"Who would miss [taking part in] this war will be missing the best chance in his life and will be deprived of [Allah's] reward," added the militant with a long black beard and wearing military fatigue.
The group has claimed responsibility for the Algiers attacks targeting the prime minister's office, Interpol's offices in the eastern suburb of Bab Ezzouar, and a police special forces headquarters on the road to the airport.
It has also published photographs of the three alleged suicide bombers in an Internet message.
Al Qaeda chief in North Africa drums up followers
Author