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Increasing reports alqaeda is operating in iraq Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1092971.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1092971.htm
PM - Increasing reports al-Qaeda is operating in Iraq
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1092971.htm]
PM - Thursday, 22 April , 2004 18:21:20
Reporter: Michael Vincent
MARK COLVIN: Has al-Qaeda struck again? The coincidence of yesterday's devastating blasts in Iraq's southern city of Basra, and the Saudi capital Riyadh, does not look like quite such a coincidence tonight.
The Governor of Basra has already suggested that al-Qaeda may have been responsible for the atrocities there. This evening, Saudi militant followers of al-Qaeda have claimed responsibility for the bomb at the security headquarters in Riyadh.
The group, calling itself Al Haramain Brigades, says the attack targeted special security and anti-terrorism units in the Kingdom.
In Iraq, Coalition military spokesmen are saying only that the bombers were from outside the city and quite possibly outside Iraq.
Meanwhile, as Michael Vincent reports, terrorism analysts say there are now some 30 separate groups prepared to carry out attacks in Iraq to ensure that the chaos continues.
MICHAEL VINCENT: The residents of Basra have begun mourning those killed in yesterday's attacks.
Within the space of a few hours five suicide bombers killed more than 70 people, including 20 children who were on their way to school.
Today Basra's streets were quiet and many parents kept their children at home
Iraq's Interior Minister Samir El-Sumeidi has called the attacks a massacre.
SAMIR EL-SUMEIDI: The terrorists want to lead Iraq down the path of darkness and chaos. The Iraqi Government condemns this and is determined to find these people and bring them to justice and bring an end to this cancer that's invading the body of Iraq.
MICHAEL VINCENT: The attacks have rattled the British, who had largely been unaffected by the wave of violence which has swept the country in recent weeks.
The UK's Special Representative in Iraq, David Richmond, says he doesn't expect British forces to change their approach to operating in the south.
DAVID RICHMOND: Well I think if I am right in saying that the bombers have come from outside, I don't see why that should change the approach of British troops in Basra. They have worked with the local community and I think that they will go on working with the local community. Of course they will do all they can to try and prevent these outrages. That there may be more violence in the run up to the transition on the 30th of June, I think that is certainly possible and we will have to take all the steps we can to counter it.
MICHAEL VINCENT: But analysts believe it will be very hard for the British and Coalition in general to counter further such attacks.
Director of Terrorism Studies at the ANU, Clive Williams, says the locals in Basra are very likely to turn on the British rather than those responsible for the attacks, and he believes that will have practical repercussions for governing the south.
CLIVE WILLIAMS: Most of these attacks, well in fact all of these attacks, were actually directed against the police. I mean there were civilian casualties as well but, I mean, it was also to try and undermine I think the progress that the British are making in the south. Essentially the people that are involved in these things don't want to see stability and they don't want to see peace. They want a situation of chaos that they can exploit.
MICHAEL VINCENT: How much do you think this will radicalise the population then in the British controlled south?
CLIVE WILLIAMS: It simply makes it more difficult for British peacekeeping efforts there, and it'll make the police much more wary, it'll make people wary of going into the police. People will keep their heads down and won't be as cooperative with the police probably. So I mean it'll have a lot of knock on effects.
Up 'til now, Basra had been something of a success story because with the British patrolling with the police and so on whereas the Americans have been more sort of aggressive in their dealings with people in the centre of Iraq. So now it sort of tends to, will tend to undermine that program I think, which is a pity.
MICHAEL VINCENT: British officials say yesterday's attacks were the work of people from outside Basra and possibly foreigners. US and Iraqi officials are adamant it was the work of al-Qaeda.
Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia an al-Qaeda-affiliated group has claimed responsibility for yesterday's bombing in the capital Riyadh.
The Brigade of the Two Holy Mosques in the Arabian Peninsula said it had succeeded in blowing up the headquarters of the special security and anti-terrorism forces related to the interior ministry. They killed four and wounded 148.
MARK COLVIN: Michael Vincent.
© 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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