11 March 2005

DUBAI- Al-Qaeda's frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, vowed to defeat "infidels and apostates" in response to a Madrid conference on terrorism.

"We tell the infidels and apostates, the enemies of God: whatever you do, you will be defeated. God promised us victory," read the statement from the Organization of Al-Qaeda of Jihad in the Land of Two Rivers, in a statement published on the Internet.

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified.

"How many times will the infidels and apostates meet to fight against Islam and combat the Jihad... They have other worries than to fight the Muslims and mistreat them," it said.

The Madrid conference, grouping former presidents and heads of state of democratic countries, on Friday presented the "Madrid Agenda", a series of recommendations aimed at combating terrorism.

After three days of conferences, working groups and seminars attended by 200 experts and academics from more than 50 countries, the Madrid group issued a call to action "for governments, institutions, civil society, the media and individuals".

It said "a global democratic response" was needed "to counter to the global threat of terrorism".

Zarqawi's group has claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

In December, Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden named the Jordanian-born Zarqawi "emir" of the terror network in Iraq.

The United States has placed USD 25 million bounties on both men.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news