Al-Qaida in North Africa issues new threats against West, local regimes

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The leader of al-Qaida in North Africa on Monday called for Muslims to unite in holy war against the region's governments and issued new threats against western targets, including France, Spain and the United States. The message decried a "new colonial offensive" by the West in North Africa and warned Muslims not to back the local "regimes of apostasy and treason." The message was signed by Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, the pseudonym used by Abdelmalek Droukdel, the leader of al-Qaida's North African offshoot. The authenticity of the message could not be independently verified. The 28-minute audiotape was issued along with video of Droukdel on Web sites frequently used by Islamists. It was confirmed Monday by the US-based SITE intelligence group, which monitors militant messages.