Purported spokesman for an Iraqi insurgent group offers negotiations

[sabra]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/05/africa/ME_GEN_Iraq_Islamic_Army.php

Purported spokesman for an Iraqi insurgent group offers negotiations with the United States
The Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq A purported spokesman for a Sunni insurgent group, the Islamic Army in Iraq, offered to open negotiations with the Americans in an audiotape aired by Al-Jazeera television on Thursday.

The tape was said to be from Ibrahim al-Shimmari, whose name has appeared in past statements by the group, which has claimed responsibility for a number of suicide bombings against civilians and attacks on U.S. troops.

...

"We are prepared for any negotiations, whether secret or public, on the condition only that they are sincere. We have no objection to mediators with international credentials, and it is possible to exchange letters," the speaker in the tape said.

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In sections of the tape not aired, the speaker on the tape said Iraq faces occupation by two powers — "the Crusader Americans and the Iranians ... and the latter is the more dangerous," Al-Jazeera reported