Audio message from al Zarqawi “Wage war in the elections”

BAGDAD – An audio cassette attributed by Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al Zarqawi and published on the internet declares “a tough war” against the elections, and democracy in Iraq. Iraqi Sunnis are invited on the tape to oppose the “American-Shiite elections”.

The voice – that the site identifies with that of Zarqawi – literally says: “We have declared a tough war against the principle of democracy and all those who want to implement it. The candidates in the elections are trying to become demigods while those who vote for them are unfaithful. And God is my witness, I informed them (of our intentions) “.

The rumor – which resembles that of a previous tape attributed to the head of Al Qaeda in Iraq – also urges Sunnis to fight the elections which, he says, are a conspiracy against them hatched by the US and Shiite allies.

January 23rd 2005