Australia `ignores' terrorists, slams erstwhile partners

[dArKeR]

REUTERS , CANBERRA
Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004,Page 5

Australia will ignore threats of attack by a group saying it is the European wing of al-Qaeda and blamed Spain and the Philippines for fueling the threats by giving in to terrorists and withdrawing troops from Iraq.

The Islamic Tawhid Group said in a statement posted on a Web site that it would attack Italy and Australia with "columns of rigged cars" if they did not withdraw their troops from Iraq.

"We are still investigating the authenticity and relevance of that body, but we will not take any notice of threats of that kind," Australian Prime Minister John Howard told reporters in Sydney yesterday.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/07/27/2003180639

[Cha]

1. Fuck howard.

[Matilda]

2. If I send them a map showing the way to Kirribilli House,

will they leave the rest of us alone?

[struggle4progress]

3. Spain protests against Australian statement on Iraq withdrawal

MADRID, July 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The Spanish government protested Monday against the statement of Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer who accused Spain of encouraging terrorism through its troop withdrawal from Iraq.

The Spanish government had made the fight against terrorism a clear foreign policy priority, said Vice Foreign Minister Luis Calvo to Australian ambassador to Spain Susan Tanner, who was summoned to the Spanish Foreign Ministry.
<snip>

The Australian diplomat reiterated Monday that Spain gave in to the terrorist pressure by withdrawing its troops from Iraq. But he admitted that the situation was due to an electoral promise of thenew Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Rodriguez Zapatero.

The Foreign Ministry said in a communique that the Spanish government considered Downer's remarks "unacceptable" especially from a friend like Australia.
<snip>

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-07/27/content_1655052.htm

<edit: added:>
Spain Summons Australian Ambassador Over Terrorism Comments

July 27 (Bloomberg) -- The Spanish government summoned Australia's ambassador over remarks by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer that countries withdrawing troops from Iraq will encourage terrorists.
<snip>

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=acG5mC_zAoxw&refer=europe