Al-Qaeda vows 100 attacks in Iraq to revenge bin Laden's death

Aug 20, 2011, 13:23 GMT

Cairo - An al-Qaeda-affiliated group said it had launched a campaign of 100 attacks in Iraq, beginning in the middle of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, according to a statement published overnight Saturday on Islamist websites.

More than 60 people were killed in around a dozen blasts across Iraq on Monday, which marked the middle point of Ramadan. This was the largest number of attacks on a single day in Iraq since the start of the year.

The group, Islamic State of Iraq, said its campaign was titled 'Revenge for Sheikh Osama bin Laden and senior leaders.' The al-Qaeda leader was killed by US forces in Pakistan in May.

'The campaign begins in the middle of the fasting month and will end after 100 attacks,' said the statement, dated August 14.

'The attacks will vary between raids, martyrdom operations, explosive devices, silenced guns and snipers, in all cities,' the statement added.

However, the group did not claim responsibility for Monday's blasts. The Islamic State of Iraq is an umbrella organization made up of insurgent al-Qaeda-affiliated groups.

Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise until sunset, runs through August.

Violence in Iraq has declined significantly since its peak in 2006-07, but the fear of instability is rising again, amid almost daily reports of violence and attacks around the country.