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Iraqi militants offer US a truce to leave Iraq
Mail & Guardian/AP
Cairo, Egypt
December 23, 2006

A speech posted on the internet on Friday by the purported leader of an al-Qaeda-linked militant group has offered United States troops a one-month truce for withdrawing from Iraq without being attacked.

The leader of the Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, also called on former officers in Saddam Hussein's disbanded army to join his militia, promising to provide them with a salary and house so long as they could recite three suras, or groups of verses, of the Qur'an.

The authenticity of the 20-minute audio tape could not be verified but it appeared on an Islamic website known for displaying militant groups' statements.

The Islamic State of Iraq declared itself in October. It is believed to be an umbrella group for militant organisations, including al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Addressing the US, al-Baghdadi said: "We are announcing today our orders for you, so obey them before you regret it.

"We order you to withdraw your troops immediately, using troop carriers and aircraft, and taking only your personal weapons. Don't withdraw any heavy weapons. Instead you should hand that and your military bases over to the holy warriors of the Islamic State," he said on the tape.

He said the withdrawal period should not exceed one month, and during that time "we will allow your withdrawal to proceed without being attacked by explosives or any other form".

Al-Baghdadi claimed that Washington had tried to open a channel of negotiation with his group through the Saudi government, but he had rejected the initiative.

"The giant has started to fall. It is looking for an escape and seeking to negotiate with all the other groups and parties," al-Baghdadi said.

"They sent us al-Salool," he said, employing an abusive historical term to refer to the Saudi ruling family.

Al-Baghdadi said he had spurned the offer because "we are not ones to negotiate with those who killed our children" -- Sapa-AP

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