Free Republic

DUBAI (Reuters) - The new leader of al Qaeda in Iraq "slit the throats" of two U.S. soldiers whose bodies were found in Baghdad, according to a statement posted on the Internet on Tuesday. "God Almighty has graced the leader Abu Hamza al-Muhajir ... with the implementation of the sentence," said a statement from the al Qaeda-led Mujahideen Shura Council. It said the two had been killed by having their throats slit. The statement could not be authenticated. It was posted on one Web forum used by Islamists, but not on the main site used by Iraqi insurgent groups. The...

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom is embarking on a diplomatic visit to France and England Sunday. Shalom is to discuss with his hosts the matter of adding the Hizbullah to their register of terror organizations. Both countries have in the past refused to include the Hizbullah on the list, as they distinguish between the organization's military and diplomatic wings. The foreign minister will also update French and British leaders regarding the recent positive developments with the Palestinian Authority after the Sharm e-Sheikh summit, and attempts to restore ambassadors from Arab countries to Israel, Army Radio reported.