November 10, 2004

Ansar al-Jihad Threatens to Behead Allawi Relatives

This is the first time I have heard of Ansar al-Jihad, which means Partisans of Holy War or Holy War Followers. Allawi, for his part, has refused any negotiations with the terrorists. Notice the article calls the terrorists 'militants'. Xinhuanet:

A militant group kidnapping three family members of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi threatened on Wednesday to kill them if Allawi doesn't order a withdrawal from the besieged Fallujah.

In a statement, the group known to be Ansar al-Jihad (Partisans of Holy War) claimed responsibility for the abduction and threatened to behead the three if Allawi fails to meet its demands in 48 hours.

"We demand the agent government liberate all the prisoners in Iraq, women and men, and lift the siege over Fallujah and stop the military action against the city," said the previously unknown group.

Gunmen have abducted at least two members of interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family from their Baghdad home on Tuesday. The militants are threatening to behead them if their demands are not met. ...

"We promise Allah and his messenger that if the agent government doesn't respond to our demands within 48 hours, they (the hostages) will be beheaded," the group says on the website.

Interim government spokesman Thair al-Naqeeb says the prime minister's first cousin Ghazi Allawi was seized along with the cousin's daughter-in-law as they were leaving their home in southwestern Baghdad Tuesday evening.

"Ghazi Allawi is 75 years old. He has no political affiliation, and is not holding a government post," the government statement said.

Reuters says Ghazi Allawi was taken along with his wife and son. Sources also tell Reuters that there had been a short gunbattle at the cousin's home before they were seized.

Ansar al-Jihad also said in its Web posting it abducted three people.