Al-Qaeda gloats over demise of Rumsfeld

AL-QAEDA in Iraq yesterday claimed to be winning the war in Iraq and gloated over the resignation of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Amid mounting speculation that the American ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, would become the latest casualty following criticism over US policy in Iraq, al-Qaeda issued a statement clearly designed to take advantage of President George Bush's current plight.

Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, said: "The American people have put their feet on the right path by ... realising their president's betrayal in supporting Israel. So they voted for something reasonable in the last elections," he said.

He called on Mr Bush to remain "steadfast in the battlefield" so al-Qaeda would have more opportunities to fight his soldiers. "They are getting ready to leave, because they are no longer capable of staying. Remain steadfast in the battlefield you coward."

The US yesterday announced the deaths of three soldiers and one Marine in Iraq, bringing the number of US troops killed this month to 24.