[freeperfromnj]

The caller also warned that his group would stage an attack "soon" against Air France "if France does not go back on its decision to ban the Islamic headscarf" in state schools.

A few posters on FR had thoughts on this possible connection. I wonder why the mainstream press hasn't picked up this story yet. Did you post it on any of the Egypt Air Crash threads?

[Velveeta]

No, I haven't posted it on the Egypt Air crash threads. I'll search for the threads, but if you have them handy and have to time to post, please feel free...

Different version here:

AFP: Terrorists Claimed Responsible for Egyptian Plane "Attentat"
2004-01-05
An unknown Islamic organization, self-named Ansar el-Hak or Justice Partisans, has claimed responsible for the "attentat" against the Egyptian charter jet, which crashed over Red Sea on Saturday. The anonymous man, who called at the local AFP section in Cairo, explained in Arab that the organization's headquarters is in Yemen and had kin relations with Osama bin Laden. He also warned of a coming terrorist act against Air France, unless France lifted the ban of wearing traditional Islamic shawls in French schools, recently introduced by President Jacque Shirak.

http://www.novinite.com/newsletter/print.php?id=29572