Al-Qaida in North Africa threatens new attacks

The North African branch of al-Qaida threatened of new attacks against "enemies of God" in North Africa in a statement posted on the Internet on Monday. "The Holy warriors, thanks be to God, have managed to reorganize their ranks and set forth their plans, and they are preparing a lot of surprises," said the statement posted on a militant web site usually used by Al-Qaida. These "surprises" will escalate "until the enemies of God's religion realize that they have no choice but to repent to God and halt the war against Islam and Muslims" in North Africa, the statement said. The message's authenticity could not be independently verified. The statement also called on "all Muslim brethren" to stay away from army, police, and official centers because militants "are determined to target their bases ... by all means of explosions, shelling, and destruction until they are either uprooted or return to their senses."