Monday, October 16, 2006
Mujahideen Shura Council announces Islamic state in Iraq
Insurgency
The Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq, an umbrella organisation of Sunni muslim insurgents including branches of Al Qaeda, has proclaimed an independent Islamic state in Iraq. The group announced in a video statement that the new state consisted of six provinces with large Sunni populations and parts of two others which are predominately Shi'ite. The insurgents' spokesman claimed the Islamic state stretched 250 kilometres north of Baghdad to Kirkuk. Ten people died and dozens more were injured when six bombs exploded in the ethnically-mixed city on Sunday. It's believed several of the explosions involved car bombs detonated by suicide attackers.
He said, “Your brothers announce the establishment of the Islamic State in Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, Ninawa, and in other parts of the governorate of Babel, in order to protect our religion and our people”. Further, the Mujahid delivers a special call to the tribal heads in Iraq, and to all Sunni Muslims in that country, to pledge loyalty to the “Emir of the Believers,” Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, by their adherence and obedience.
