Al Qaeda strikes in Iraq
July 07, 2005
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda cell in Iraq has claimed responsibility for killing Egypt's top diplomat to Iraq.
A statement released by the group said in part, "Egypt is one of those at the forefront of the war on Islam and Muslims. Its jails are full of mujahedeen."
The latest in a series of attacks on government officials, this latest killing seems to show that al Qaeda is shifting tactics in the ongoing insurgency in Iraq. As Mohammed Bazzi writes in Newsday, "They're not just trying to sow chaos, they're also seeking to undermine Iraqi government efforts to build ties with other Arab countries."