IRAQ: U.S. ARMY RELEASES DETAILS OF REBEL LETTER OUTLINING PLANS TO CAUSE TERROR AND HAVOC IN IRAQ.
Record ID:
647058
IRAQ: U.S. ARMY RELEASES DETAILS OF REBEL LETTER OUTLINING PLANS TO CAUSE TERROR AND HAVOC IN IRAQ.
- Title: IRAQ: U.S. ARMY RELEASES DETAILS OF REBEL LETTER OUTLINING PLANS TO CAUSE TERROR AND HAVOC IN IRAQ.
- Date: 11th February 2004
- Summary: (W5) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (FEBRUARY 11, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ARMY MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES SWANNACK SAYING "The letter goes on explaining that the Coalition resolve is strong, Coalition intelligence is ever increasing and Iraqis do not support the presence of terrorists in the country. Zarqawi indicated that they must strike now before it is too late when the new Iraqi government takes over later this summer. This is the clearest indications of the successes happening not only in multi-national division west but also throughout Iraq. And anybody out there who knows where Zarqawi is: I want to inform you that the reward for Zarqawi was just increased to ten million dollars." 3. REPORTERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ARMY MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES SWANNACK SAYING "Specifically related to the United Nations being here I can't speak. I do think it's related to Zarqawi's letter though, to go ahead and try to create as much terror and havoc as can be accomplished. And I think it's the only way terrorists in this country might have an opportunity to maybe create a seam or some kind of wedge between Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces. I don't think they'll be successful but that's exactly what I think their strategy is". 5. PAN FROM CAMERA CREW TO WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 26th February 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVAAILQEULFFQHYX4GXABE72GII6
- Story Text: U.S. army releases details of letter written by
fugitive Zarqawi outlining plans to destabilise Iraq.
Speaking at a news conference in Baghdad on
Wednesday (February 11, 2004) U.S. Major General Charles Swannack
shared information about a letter written by Abu Musab
Zarqawi, a man Washington says has links to Ansar al-Islam.
Zarqawi, a fugitive Jordanian national, called upon
Iraqis to create "as much terror and havoc as can be
accomplished" in Iraq, Swannack said.
"Zarqawi indicated that they must strike now before it
is too late when the new Iraqi government takes over later
this summer," he added.
U.S. troops said on Monday (February 9) that they had
seized a computer disk containing the letter outlining
plans to destabilise Iraq.
"Anybody out there who knows where Zarqawi is: I want
to inform you that the reward for Zarqawi was just
increased to ten million dollars," Swannack, the commander
of the 82nd Airborne Division said.
The United States says Ansar al-Islam, which operates
in northern Iraq, is affiliated to al Qaeda.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None