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Zarqawi death poses problems for Kurdish
militants
10.6.2006
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Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq, 9 June (AKI) - The death
of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will have repercussions on
the morale of armed Kurdish Islamist groups active
in some areas of Iraqi Kurdistan, especially at
Kirkuk and Mosul, a senior Kurdish intelligence
source has said. There is a strategic relationship
between these formations and al-Zarqawi's group, the
official told Adnkronos International (AKI),
explaining that these ties date back to the Saddam
regime. "Al-Zarqawi visited Kurdistan for the first
time in the winter of 2002 when in the border area
of Horaman, controlled then by the Ansar al-Islam of
Mullah Krekar, he met some leaders to discuss jihadi
issues and coordination."
"This initial contact was consolidated thanks to
Omar Baziyani, who was head of the Tawhid (Unity)
which had broken away from Ansar al-Islam, after
they had suffered serious military losses to the
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan working with the US
forces at the start of the war to topple Saddam.
These defeats forced Tawhid militants to retreat
beyond the border into Iran" the source said.
"After Baziyani and his group shifted to Iran, they
tried to resume contact with al-Zarqawi whose base
was in Fallujah.
During the meeting between Baziyani and al-Zarqawi,
the source explained, the two discussed the
differences between the Tawhid group and the heads
of Ansar al-Islam and Baziyani's desire to work
together with al-Zarqawi to attack coalition forces.
It was in this context that "the group of Tawhid
swore allegiance to al-Zarqawi who asked the members
to return to Iraq to pursue the Jihad".
At this point there was a crucial meeting between
al-Zarqawi and some of Baziyani's aides to divide up
responsibilities. Al-Zarqawi became the emir of the
Tawhid e Jihad, Omar Baziyani was elected emir of
Baghdad , Abu Muhammad al-Lubnani was chosen as the
military commander, Maher al-Shami head of the
Sharia law committee and Kazim, emir of Baquba and
head of information. |
Mullah Krekar, the founder of radical and Terrorist
Islamist group Ansar al-Islam
Photo: AP
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,
Al Qaeda Islamic
terrorist leader in Iraq
Photo:Reuters |
The Kurdish intelligence official said "the link
between the two groups continued for a period before
the battle of Fallujah when al-Zarqawi asked
Baziyani to travel to Mosul to alert (Kurdish
militant leader) Abu Talha to call a summit to study
the military situation prior to the battle."
During this meeting, our source added various
options were put up regarding division of labour in
the light of new developments, and new appointments
were made.
"This close link between al-Zarqawi's organisation
and the Kurdish groups has continued until today and
has seen them involved in various joint operations.
Al-Zarqawi also consistently provided substantial
financial assistance and military input to the
group.
For this reason, the source concluded, "the death of
al-Zarqawi will have an impact on the morale of
these groups as they consider him a model of Islamic
warrior against the foreign forces in Iraq"
adnki com
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