Top US foe claims killing of nearly 50 Iraqi army recruits

BAGHDAD – America’s top enemy in Iraq claimed the killing of nearly 50 unarmed army recruits in a cold-blooded assault on fledgling security forces slated to take part in a crackdown on rebels before elections due in January.

Insurgents blew up a roadside bomb near a US patrol in central Baghdad yesterday, wounding three Iraqi civilians, the Interior Ministry said. The US military had no immediate word on the blast that went off not far from the Australian embassy.Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s newly renamed group, the Al Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in Iraq, said it had killed 48 “apostates” in Saturday’s attack on army recruits northeast of Baghdad.Iraqi authorities said 49 men were killed.”The mujahideen killed them all, stole two vehicles and the salaries they had just received from their masters,” Zarqawi’s group said in a statement on a Web site used by militants.The attack was another blow to the US-backed interim government’s efforts to build up local security forces to help US-led troops tackle Iraq’s relentless insurgency before elections scheduled for January.Guerrillas also killed a US diplomat in a mortar attack on a US base near Baghdad airport on Sunday in the first known killing of an American diplomat in Iraq since last year’s war.Iraqi Defence Minister Hazim al-Shaalan said those who killed the army recruits would face the maximum punishment.”Of course, once we identify and arrest the perpetrators, we will take tough measures against them.God willing, when we arrest them, they will receive capital punishment,” he said.Zarqawi’s group has claimed responsibility for some of Iraq’s bloodiest suicide attacks and several hostage beheadings.Washington has offered US$25 million for his killing or capture.Authorities said rebels disguised as police had halted the minibuses carrying the recruits at a fake checkpoint.They forced them to lie face down on the road before shooting them in the head.A dozen recruits tried to flee but were also shot.”It appears they were ambushed by a large, well-organised force with good intelligence,” a security source said.Rebels and suicide bombers have often targeted Iraqis seen as cooperating with the Americans or the interim government.- Nampa-ReutersThe US military had no immediate word on the blast that went off not far from the Australian embassy.Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s newly renamed group, the Al Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in Iraq, said it had killed 48 “apostates” in Saturday’s attack on army recruits northeast of Baghdad.Iraqi authorities said 49 men were killed.”The mujahideen killed them all, stole two vehicles and the salaries they had just received from their masters,” Zarqawi’s group said in a statement on a Web site used by militants.The attack was another blow to the US-backed interim government’s efforts to build up local security forces to help US-led troops tackle Iraq’s relentless insurgency before elections scheduled for January.Guerrillas also killed a US diplomat in a mortar attack on a US base near Baghdad airport on Sunday in the first known killing of an American diplomat in Iraq since last year’s war.Iraqi Defence Minister Hazim al-Shaalan said those who killed the army recruits would face the maximum punishment.”Of course, once we identify and arrest the perpetrators, we will take tough measures against them.God willing, when we arrest them, they will receive capital punishment,” he said.Zarqawi’s group has claimed responsibility for some of Iraq’s bloodiest suicide attacks and several hostage beheadings.Washington has offered US$25 million for his killing or capture.Authorities said rebels disguised as police had halted the minibuses carrying the recruits at a fake checkpoint.They forced them to lie face down on the road before shooting them in the head.A dozen recruits tried to flee but were also shot.”It appears they were ambushed by a large, well-organised force with good intelligence,” a security source said.Rebels and suicide bombers have often targeted Iraqis seen as cooperating with the Americans or the interim government.- Nampa-Reuters