Iraq al-Qaida leader declares all-out war

Al-Qaida’s leader in Iraq declared all-out war on Shiite Muslims, Iraqi troops and the country’s government in an audio tape released on the internet today.

The speaker on the tape, introduced as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, also said his militant forces would attack any Iraqi it believes has co-operated with an ongoing US-led offensive in the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar.