Qaeda in North Africa urges killing of more U.S. envoys

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Al Qaeda's affiliate in North Africa urged Muslims to kill representatives of the U.S. government in the region in retaliation for a film that mocks the Prophet Mohammad, saying it welcomed last week's revenge killing of the U.S. ambassador in Libya.

"We congratulate our Muslim rebel brothers who defended our Prophet's honour... and we tell them: the killing of the U.S. ambassador is the best gift you give to his arrogant unjust government," al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said in a statement posted on Tuesday on a website used by militants.

AQIM, al-Qaeda's North African arm, urged Muslims, particularly in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania, to "kill U.S. ambassadors and representatives or to kick them out and purify our land from their filth to avenge" the Prophet's honour.

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AQIM emerged out of Algeria's civil conflict but it has gradually expanded south into the Sahara and has raised its profile in recent years, partly through hit-and-run attacks on regional armies but mainly by kidnapping Westerners for ransom.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/18/uk-protests-qaeda-idUKBRE88H0AV20120918