Website airs recording of al-Qaida 'leader' in Iraq

The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq urged Muslims to make the holy month of Ramadan a “month of holy war,” in an audiotape posted on Islamic website today.

The man on the tape identified himself as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir – also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri – the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, though the voice could not be independently identified.

He is believed to have succeeded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who died in a US airstrike north of Baghdad in June.

“I congratulate the Muslim nation on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of jihad (holy war). I ask God to make it a month for honour and victory for Muslims,” the voice said.

The recording also claimed more than 4,000 foreign fighters have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion.