Al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq vowed on Friday to avenge the fatal shooting of a wounded unarmed Iraqi in a Fallujah mosque by a United States Marine last year, after he was cleared by the Marine Corps, according to an Internet posting.
"Oh nation of Islam, do not be surprised (by the ruling to clear the Marine)... as they are crusaders and Jews who have declared war on Islam and Muslims," said a statement from Al-Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in Iraq on an Islamist website.
"We are determined to avenge our brother and we shall not let off or rest until God's law rules the land," said the posting from the group, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Its authenticity could not be verified.
After a five-month investigation, the Marine Corps said it determined that the Marine corporal fired in self-defence and would not face a court martial for the shooting in November, shown in blurry images on a widely aired videotape.
The Iraqi was one of five wounded left in the mosque after the Marines fought their way into the formerly rebel-held city of Fallujah. |