Al-Qaida group threatens Europe

A STATEMENT issued in the name of al-Qaida has warned European states that they have only two weeks to withdraw their troops from Iraq or else face the consequences.

Cairo newspaper Asharq al-Awsat received a statement from the Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri (al-Qaida), the group which claimed responsibility for the Madrid train bombs on March 11 which killed about 200 people.

The statement referred to a three-month ceasefire in Europe that the leader of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden, declared on April 15.