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CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - The purported leader of an al-Qaida-dominated insurgent umbrella group in Iraq warned pro-government Sunnis Wednesday that the Shiites and U.S. forces will one day turn on them.
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq, issued a 37-minute audio message on militant Web sites marking the 2nd anniversary of his organization’s founding and calling for former insurgents to rejoin the fight.
"You know well that the hateful Rafidah and infidel invaders have not forgotten that you were yesterday’s enemies and they have already begun their attacks against you," he said, using al-Qaida terms for Shiites and U.S. forces.
"Return to us because we have not forgotten that you were the friends of yesterday," he added.
Violence dropped sharply in Iraq after many Sunnis turned on their erstwhile al-Qaida allies and formed "awakening groups" allied with U.S. forces.
The groups, however, face suspicions by the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government, which fears their decision to break with the insurgency was a short-term tactic to gain U.S. money and support. A number of members of the these councils have been arrested by Iraqi security forces.
