Al Qaida hits out at 'hag' Rice's visit to Iraq

Al Qaida in Iraq has purportedly posted a statement on the internet blasting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Iraq and criticising her calls for including Sunni Arabs in the political process.

The statement, posted today on a website that has previously carried similar communiqués, said Rice was not welcome in Iraq and that she has “desecrated” its land.

The authenticity of the statement, which was signed by the spokesman of the group, Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, could not be verified.

Rice’s one-day trip on Sunday was her first to Iraq since succeeding Colin Powell in January as the top US diplomat.

“The hag wants the participation of the apostates and secularists who are claiming to be Sunnis,” the statement said about Rice.

Rice held talks with a number of senior Iraqi officials, including President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafaari on Iraq’s political process, particularly the writing of the constitution and the inclusion of the under-privileged Sunni Arab minority.